Widely considered to be the Canadian equivalent to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, “Operation Soap” was the codename for a series of Toronto Police raids on gay bathhouses in 1981. Nearly 300 men were arrested in these raids, sparking mass outrage, protests, and rallies denouncing police violence. This public protest empowered Toronto's growing LGBTQ movement, and it serves as a key moment of historical background depicted in
Pomegranate.
A queer love story for the ages
The show’s first act sees Cass, recounting the moment she and Suzie fell in love, being transported from the Fly By Night bar to Pompeii 79 AD. There, the Priestess vows to protect the two lovers—now named Suli and Cassia—against the “coming devastation” of both the Roman Centurion and his Legion, and the threatening eruption of Vesuvius. Act 2 sees this historic explosion devastate in new ways, as the couple’s reunion is forced to contend with the immediate homophobia of Suzie’s uncle when he bursts into the supposedly safe space confines of the Fly By Night.
The sounds of Pomegranate
Pomegranate features an eclectic score—incorporating styles such as classical, blues, ballads, bossa nova, and avant garde music—that expresses the opera’s two disparate settings. At the original Buddies in Bad Times performance, audiences praised the music for its strong evocation of the ancient world through harp, flute, oboe, and cellos, pairing well with the more modern, urban sounds of keyboard and saxophone. In our production, that same stellar music enjoys the added enrichment of a six-member chorus and expanded, full orchestral palette. In being a women-led, Lesbian opera, Pomegranate represents an important milestone in an industry where the presence of female creators and composers has been historically absent from view.
Rising opera stars
The show’s exciting cast features two rising opera stars singing its central lovers: Adanya Dunn and Danielle Buonaiuto, each making their COC debuts. Edmonton-based mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel sings Livia and Suzie's Mother, opposite Ensemble Studio alumnus Peter Barrett, who returns to sing two imposing baritone figures, Marcus the Roman Centurion and Suzie’s homophobic uncle Salvatore. After their sell-out performances of The Queen In Me, interdisciplinary artist Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 sings Jules and The Priestess.
The Future of Pomegranate
Pomegranate’s world premiere hits the COCT stage for three performances on June 2, 3, and 4, but this is far from the end of its journey! The production will tour to Vancouver in August 2024 for a production by Vancouver Opera in celebration of Pride Week. Starting as a series of poems written over 15 years ago, our world premiere offers the latest installment in the work’s ever-inspiring evolution.
Marshall and Hale’s
Pomegranate opens on Friday, June 2!
Tickets now on sale.
