Reviews

In the role of Ännchen, a vibrant Katherine Polit... chirped her way brightly through the music.

But perhaps the show stealer of the evening was soprano Katherine Polit who sang the role of Aennchen, Agathe’s sprightly and unperturbable cousin. In an opera that occasionally gets carried away with religious overtones, the role of Aennchen provides light, slightly comic relief and needs a voice to match. That voice belonged to Ms. Polit, who seems to have had a great deal of fun portraying her character, giving the audience and the cast a lift whenever it was needed.

Katherine Polit sings Aennchen, Agathe’s pert cousin and cheerful confidante. Polit…holds her own in every scene – including the delightful watchdog one in which her stylish, near-Mozartean ornamentation seems effortless.

Soprano Katherine Polit won audience sympathy in her soubrette role of Agathe’s companion, Aennchen. Polit’s duets with Thomson’s Agathe were affecting, and Aennchen’s aria about the family dog being mistaken for a ghost was amusingly sung.

Katherine Polit’s Fiona is winsome and appealing — her voice magnificent…

As for the cast? It would be very difficult — if not impossible — to improve on this group of vocally and visually perfect singer/actors. OLO veteran baritone Nathan Brian as Tommy Albright has to be the romantic hero every young miss dreams of, tall and handsome with a gorgeous voice that can croon softly, or fill the house with sumptuous sound. Soprano Katherine Polit as Fiona is making her OLO debut this season, but is equally at home in the role.

Katherine Polit – as self-centered Rose Maybud who makes nary a move without consulting her book of etiquette – captured the vanity and silliness of the character to perfection, and the next day, reappeared as Fiona, a tremendously appealing and warmly sympathetic Scottish lass, in “Brigadoon” opposite Brian’s full-throttle leading man role of Tommy.

Katherine Polit’s Rose Maybud is suitably demure, with a voice and stage presence that belies her petite stature.

The third female role of Zerlina is beautifully sung by Katie Polit. A good actress, she is easily enticed by Giovanni but seductive in her aria “Batti Batti” with Masetto.

Katherine Polit aroused cheers for (her) comic antics and vocal acrobatics as Despina…

Polit sang the hit tune of the evening “o mio babbino caro” with polish.