Mystery on the Docks

SYNOPSIS: Two mean looking rats slink into Ralph's diner-- and they're pretty tough customers.  Before the night is over, the villainous rats have kidnapped Ralph and the world-famous opera star, Edwina Bombastina.  The rats will stop at nothing.  But Ralph has a few tricks of his own up his sleeve!  Based on the book "Mystery On The Docks" by Thacher Hurd and told in the style of an old-time radio show, the opera includes "commercial breaks" that can be written and performed by school children.

THEMES: Love of music;  Working together to solve a problem.

CAST: 3 adults plus children's chorus (small & large groups)

Ralph, a short order cook (tenor); Big Al, a criminal rat (baritone); Edwina Bombastina, opera star (soprano)

Big Al's Gang of Rats (small children's group) and Townspeople (children's chorus)

DURATION: 30 minutes

ACCOMPANIMENT: Piano only;  or, Piano/Electric keyboard and Percussion.  *Note, this work includes an optional children's percussion band who perform old radio-style sound effects for the opera.  The opera also includes "commercial breaks", meant to be written and performed live by children between each of the 3 short acts.

COMMISSIONED BY: The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Los Angeles Opera and Opera Columbus, a joint commission funded by the Reader's Digest/Meet the Composer Fund.

PRODUCTIONS: The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Columbus, Orlando Opera, Manhattan School of Music, University of Bowling Green, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Memphis, University of Southern Illinois, others

see below for audio-video clips from the opera

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