Long Beach Opera: ‘The Difficulty of Crossing a Field’
Long Beach Opera gives David Lang’s opera-play “The Difficulty of Crossing a Field” its Southern California premiere at the Terrace Theater. The work deals with a plantation owner in the pre-civil war American South who walks across his field and vanishes in plain view of his family, neighbors and slaves. Robin T. Buck portrays Andrew, who sees yet doesn’t see his friend’s disappearance. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
For this production of “The Difficulty of Crossing a Field” the audience sits on the stage looking out into the auditorium while the performers, including Robin Buck as Andrew, ride up and down on the pit elevator and take over the seating area. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
Suzan Hanson sings with powerful intensity as Mrs. Williamson, the wife of the plantation owner who vanishes into thin air. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
The disappearance at the heart of “The Difficulty of Crossing a Field” throws a family and their slaves into confusion as they grasp for answers. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
Eric B. Anthony, left, portrays Sam, a young slave alert to irony and tragedy. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
Valerie Vinzant, shown with Eric B. Anthony, portrays the Williamson daughter trying to make sense of her father’s disappearance. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
For the Long Beach Opera production, the theater is kept foggy and Suzan Hanson, playing Mrs. Williamson, stands on stilts wearing a long, flowing skirt. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times)
