Prohibition-era Shenanigans (Kentucky Opera)

SONGBIRD Adaptation by Eric Sean Fogel, James Lowe, and Kelley Rourke

Based on La Périchole by Jacques Offenbach, Henri Meilhac, and Ludovic Halévy Directed by Andrew Nienaber by Jeanne-Marie Rogers Entire contents are copyright © 2026 Jeanne-Marie Rogers. All rights reserved.

Songbird is an adaptation by Eric Sean Fogel, James Lowe and Kelley Rourke of Jacques Offenbach’s opera bouffe La Perichole, updated to a Prohibition era New Orleans setting. Sung in English and French with some spoken dialogue, the story treads the familiar operatic path of a powerful man who wishes to “acquire” a pretty young woman. Add in some heavy drinking, and shenanigans ensue.

Kentucky Opera presents Songbird in its Center for Cultural Health, this time transformed into a somewhat rundown speakeasy. After accessing the performance space through a “hidden” entrance, patrons can admire a display of papier-mache birds by artist Jessica Beele. For this production, the stage area runs the width of the room, with a working bar on one end and raised stage on the other. Café tables fill the space in between. The backdrops give the impression of aged brickwork with faded red

curtains and not-quite period posters. VIP tables for patrons are set at the margins on each side of the playing area, with additional seating on risers beyond.

The musical setting is an unlikely blend of light opera, musical theatre and New Orleans jazz, performed with remarkable vitality by the small band of clarinet, trumpet, trombone, banjo, bass, piano and drums. Casey Robards returns to conduct. Vocally, the singers remain in a moderate range with a few comical low notes for Don Andres and passionate high notes for Piquillo. This has the dual effect of making the singing more accessible to the casual listener, but less thrilling for the opera fan. At the preview

performance, the singing and dancing was perhaps not full-out, and a handful of featured dancers might have livened up the joint.

As the music begins, the cast enters to literally set the stage, going through the motions of a nightclub preparing to welcome its clientele. Rebekah Bortz Hardin as Mastrilla and Chad Sloan as Don Pedro appear to be the proprietors, accompanied by singers, dancers, a priest and the town mayor in disguise (since he can’t be seen in this illegal situation). As the mayor Don Andres, Armando Contreras is a hapless villain who comes across as both despicable and hilarious. Soon, the newest performers Songbird and Piquillo appear. Emily Albrink and Michael Kuhn bring these lovers to life with ardent

singing and charming characterization.

The less said about the ridiculous plot, the better, but it’s all played for laughs, complete with bad puns and silly physical comedy under the direction of Andrew Nienaber. With hints of “Hadestown,” the recent Broadway revival of “The Pirates of Penzance,” and many echoes of Shakespeare’s comedies, there’s a lot for the theatre fan to love in this production.

Songbird

Kentucky Opera

The Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health

708 Magazine St. Louisville, KY 40203

February 13, 2026 | 8pm

February 15, 2026 | 2pm

February 17, 2026 | 7:30pm https://kyopera.org/