Zorba, the tragic "small opera" based on the film Zorba the Greek, opens tonight at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published March 19, 2004
Some people say the musical Zorba is a Greek Fiddler on the Roof.
It is indeed a very ethnic show, suffused with Greek cultural references and attitudes. Further, when it debuted on Broadway in 1964, it had the same producer, librettist, costume designer and stars (not role originators) as Fiddler, which was still playing down the street.
But that's just about as far as the comparison goes.
Fiddler is tragic, but its people are generally upbeat and optimistic. Zorba is grim, like most early Greek drama, and the people who surround the title character are dark and menacing.
"It has some comedy, but it's lots of drama," said Dick Poole, who is directing the production of Zorba that opens tonight for a three-weekend run at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
"It's heart-wrenching at times," he said.
Those times include a sad death, a suicide and a spiteful murder.
Zorba is the story of a full-of-life, middle-aged denizen of the island of Crete who takes the rather stodgy, newly arrived owner of a local mine, Nikos, under his wing. Zorba encourages Nikos to take chances and live life to the fullest, despite the tragedy, anger and vengefulness he sees all around him.
"It's a great role," said Dan Maxwell, who plays Zorba. Maxwell played Daddy Warbucks in Annie and the King in The King and I at Richey Suncoast Theatre and is relishing his newest leading part.
"I've gotten a lot of advice from Greek dancers and Greek people (Poole) has brought in," Maxwell said. "I also took some cues from Anthony Quinn," who played the role in the nonmusical 1964 movie and in the 1983 Broadway revival of the musical.
Frank Sweeney, whose previous experience is mostly in television, plays the reticent Nikos. Anne Lakey (Cemetery Club, Call Me Madam, Annie) is the flirtatious Hortense, who brags that she once saved the island by distracting the leader of the enemy with sex and is determined to seduce Zorba, but for much sunnier reasons. (Hortense is based on an actual historical figure.)
Wendy Sweeney (title role in Mame) plays the Woman/Leader of the town; Liz Onley (Follies, Camelot) plays the doomed Widow, who unintentionally brings out the worst in the town's people.
A special touch in the production is local musician Emmanuel Gonatos, who plays the traditional Greek stringed instrument, the bouzouki.
Zorba was only modestly successful on Broadway, with about 300 performances after it opened in 1968 and a few more than that when it was revived in 1983 with Quinn in the title role.
The reason might have been the competition from Fiddler, which was still playing when Zorba first opened and continued on Broadway long after Zorba departed. It might also have been the musical's somber mood.
Still, Zorba is a good story, and the title character is intriguing. Many of John Kander and Fred Ebb's songs for the show are as solid as some in their better-known Cabaret and Chicago.
"This is gorgeous music," Poole said. "But it is so difficult for a chorus. It's a small opera, not a musical."
Music director Mary Ann Boos has put the 24-member cast through its paces to master the intricate vocal patterns and unfamiliar lyrics.
Jim Demetrius built the sizable sets and mountain backdrop.
At a glance
WHAT: Zorba, a musical
WHERE: Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs
WHEN: 8 p.m. today, Thursday, March 26 and 27 and April 2 and 3; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 28 and April 4.
