Feb 26, 28, Mar 2

Conductor - Micheal Ching

Director - Karen Tiller

Lighting Designer - Peter Dean Beck

Costumer - Helen E. Rodgers

Wig & Make-up Designer - Richard Stead

Mimì - Olga Chernisheva

Rodolfo - Derek Taylor

Musetta - Evelyn Pollock

Marcello - Etienne Dupuis

Schaunard - Leon Williams

Colline - John Marcus Bindel

Benoît - Laurence Paxton

Alcindoro - Laurence Paxton

Parpignol - Kaweo Kanoho

La Bohéme by Giacomo Puccini 

Running time:  3 hours

Synposis

Act 1: Paris, A garret, Christmas Eve
Marcello, a painter, complains to Rodolfo of the bone-chilling cold. Struck with a brilliant idea, Rodolfo sacrifi ces the pages of his latest play to warm the freezing men. Colline, a philosopher, returns to the apartment, dejected that he is unable to pawn any of his books and joins the men at the fi re. The musician Schaunard bursts joyfully in the door with food and money after having had success with a job. He suggests that they dine at the Café Momus. The celebration is interrupted by a knock at the door— their landlord Benoit has come to collect the rent.

After some quick thinking, the four men outwit the landlord and send him off drunk, confused and most importantly, without the rent.  The friends head off, leaving Rodolfo who promises to join them later. He returns to his work but is interrupted by a timid knock at the door. He fi nds a young woman named Mimì asking him to light her candle that has blown out. Overcome by a cough, she faints in his arms. She quickly recovers and the embarrassed young girl leaves. She quickly returns, having lost her room key when she fainted. While searching for the key, a chill wind blows out both of their candles. Their hands touch, and they tell each other about the lives.

Act II: The Latin Quarter
A festive Christmas Eve crowd has fi lled the square. Mimì, Rodolfo and his three roommates meet at the Café Momus. Marcello’s former lover, Musetta, noisily enters the square attended to by her latest suitor, the elderly Alcindoro. Ignored, Musetta makes a great scene to get Marcello’s attention.
After sending Alcindoro on an errand, she and Marcello are united. The friends and the newly formed couples leave the Café in a celebratory procession, leaving a befuddled Alcindoro with the bill.

Act III: The Barrière d’Enfer
It is a cold February morning at a toll gate on the outskirts of Paris. Street sweepers arrive, the gates open and they enter. Mimì comes through the gate and goes to the tavern where Marcello is working. Knowing that Rodolfo is inside, she asks Marcello to come outside and talk. She tells him of the terrible fights between her and
Rodolfo and recounts how jealous he is. Soon Rodolfo comes out and Mimì hides. Rodolfo admits to Marcello his jealousy and his concern over Mimì’s poor health. He feels it might be best if they separated. Mimì has a coughing fit and is discovered by Rodolfo. He comforts her and after more discussion they decide to stay together through the Spring, while at the same time, Marcello and Musetta have a huge fight and break off their relationship for good.

Act IV: The Garret
Unable to concentrate on their work, Marcello and Rodolfo tease each other about Mimì and Musetta’s new boyfriends. The mood lightens when Schaunard and Colline come home with a Bohemian feast. Suddenly, the door flies open and Musetta appears with a very ill Mimì. After getting her in bed, Musetta gives Marcello her earrings to pawn so that they can buy medicine and get a doctor.
Colline says a fi nal farewell to his beloved coat before going off to sell it.  Mimì and Rodolfo reminisce about the night they met as the Bohemians awkwardly wait for the doctor to arrive. She soon falls asleep as Musetta says a prayer for her sick friend. Marcello returns and he and Musetta notice that Mimì has expired. Colline returns and asks how Mimì is feeling and Rodolfo tells him that she is comfortable but notices the grave looks on the others’ faces. “Why do you look at me like that” he asks. Marcello tells him to have courage. Rodolfo rushes to the side of his beloved shouting “Mimì, Mimì!”