Opera Columbus presents Benjamin Britten's operatic horror story The Turn of the Screw in the Southern Theatre, Wednesday, Sept. 27, Friday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 1.
Based on the novella of the same name by Henry James, The Turn of the Screw concerns a governess employed at a crumbling Victorian era mansion and the two children in her care. Miles and Flora appear to be charming, boisterous kids.
But all is not as it seems.
Two previous caregivers, governess Miss Jessel and handyman Peter Quint, are dead.
Or are they? What did they do, and what do they want with these children? Neither James in his text nor Britten in his music tell a definitive story.
Stephen Wadsworth, a stage director with an international career, from the Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera to the Vienna Opera and La Scala, Milan, is in Columbus to direct The Turn of the Screw. Wadsworth stopped in recently to chat about Britten, Opera Columbus and, well, ghosts.
For a creepy and riveting experience in the theater, you can't do better than Opera Columbus' new production of The Turn of the Screw. The music is by Britten (1913-1976), and the English-language text based on James' novella is by Myfanwy Piper. Get tickets with someone who you can cling to when the house lights go down.
