Courtesy of UBC Opera

“Think of the British, multiplied by ten. It’s pushing the limits of humour of ridiculousness,” said Andrew Robb.

Robb’s role as the title singer in the upcoming UBC Opera Ensemble Albert Herring may have been written in the early twentieth century, but it certainly isn’t typical of the time.

Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring is a comedic response to the expectations of a Victorian society. When a small English village is unable to find a chaste woman to be crowned May Queen, the timid greengrocer Albert is chosen to be May King for the Spring Festival. Instead of celebrating his newfound title, Albert embarks on a drunken adventure, escaping his moral upbringing as he finds his adult self.

“It’s all about a young man coming of age and finding his own two feet and his own personality,” says Nancy Hermiston, the opera’s director. “It’s an interesting theme for young university students.”

“The role of Albert is very real, this situation can be placed in modern time. The opera is society’s reaction to a very odd individual, but with a humourous perspective,” said Robb. “I can have so much fun with it, because I’m feeding off the other characters, who are also so ridiculous.”

Not only does Albert Herring, whose cast is made up of entirely UBC students, offer a relatable story, but it is also one of the few operas performed in English. Combining a light hearted performance while eliminating an intimidating language barrier makes it a perfect introduction to the opera.

Albert Herring is also the debut summer production for UBC Opera, starting a Vancouver summer opera tradition. The recent re-opening of the newly renovated Old Auditorium allows for a third production to be added to their annual lineup.

“It’s a much smaller theatre than most of our opera houses in Canada. There is an intimacy that you can really see in the detail, acting and feel of the theatre. It has a much more intimate feeling,” said Hermiston.

The early twentieth century setting and themes of intimacy in Albert Herring compliment the Old Auditorium, bringing together the coming of age tale with the smaller cast, orchestra and theatre.

Albert Herring runs June 23-26 at the UBC Old Auditorium. Tickets start at $10 and are available at www.ubcopera.com or in-person at the box office.

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