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Due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, Fresh Squeezed Opera is deeply
sorry to announce the cancellation of our production of When He Was Good.
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If you have any questions, please email freshsqueezedopera@gmail.com
When He Was Good
JUNE 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 2024 6:30 PM
HERE Performing Arts Center, DOT
(145 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013)
American Premiere
Music by Ronnie Reshef
Libretto by Elad Keidan
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ABOUT
5 Aliens
4 Endangered oceans
3 Avocado plants
2 Parents
1 Murder
All out on a journey investigating love.
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When He Was Good is a comic-detective opera which tests the boundaries of love.
Charming aliens, a fervent detective, a nosy neighbor, and a child and his parents, are putting love to a test: does it exist? How strong is it? How durable is it?
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When He Was Good is a fun and fresh new opera, at the same time thought provoking, moving, and engaging in universal themes.
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CAST
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Caroline Miller, Roy/Baaz/Passerby 1
Shafiq Hicks, Martin
Claire Myers McCormick, Helen
Andy Dwan, Xardashir/Passerby 5
MaKayla MacDonald, Mrs. Nezekstow/Gaz/Passerby 3
Shane Brown, Sandor Balasz/Moxo/Passerby 4
Rebecca Soelberg, Zork/Passerby 2
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Orchestra provided by The Curiosity Cabinet
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PRODUCTION
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Orlando Segarra, Stage Director
Whitney George, Music Director
Jillian Flexner, Producer
Lee Braun, Producer
Danny Higgins, Production Manager
Sarah Herdrich, Stage Manager
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Kristin Samadi, Rehearsal Pianist
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Karen Boyer, Costume Designer
Josh Oberlander-Denny, Scenic Design
Matthew Wasser, Video Design
Jillian Flexner, Sound Designer
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SYNOPSIS
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Martin and Helen are a middle-class couple, parenting a small child named Roy. One day, an
alien appears on their doorstep. It turns out that as part of the Aliens' research, they need a
human child. They want Roy. But they are not going to abduct him, god forbid. Instead, they
have an offer: they will take care of the child and return him safe and sound a year later. In
fact, because of light-speed travel, the child will only spend one week in space. With their
fast-teaching techniques, they promise the boy will return with a Master’s degree - at his
young age.
After deliberations, the parents agree. Separation surely will be painful, but their son will
get to see the galaxy, become a space traveler, experience different cultures.
For a year they are having a wonderful time. Traveling, being together, going out,
improving their home, seeing to their hobbies. After a year, Roy returns. The alien thanks
them again, and, feeling responsible, and since he liked the kid, he leaves them with an
emergency button: if they wish, they can press the button and the alien will be happy to
take their kid again, this time - indefinitely. Of course, Helen and Martin cannot imagine
that they will ever use the button, and so they stash it in the closet. And up and away go the
aliens in their strange vessel.
Expecting their little boy, Martin and Helen are excited, but also a little sad to lose their
freedom and independence. They assume he will remain as he was, a small child looking up
to his parents. But the boy turns into a little devil, disobeying his parents at any possible
occasion, causing trouble, performing pranks and driving everyone mad. It is then that we
discover that the aliens’ purpose was completely different. In fact, they gave Roy a mission:
They needed to check whether love was real, in order to decide if to preserve the human
race. They instructed Roy to test his parents’ love in any possible way, so that if Martin and
Helen ever press the button, thus disproving love, it would be the end of the human race.
Is love real? Does it have limits? Or is it infinite? Will humanity be saved?.
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SUPPORTED BY
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NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
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NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
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BMI FOUNDATION
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AMPHION FOUNDATION
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