As the orchestra begins to play and the lights rise, the stage springs to life and Mercer University’s Fickling Hall transforms into a gallery of love stories, both sweet and chaotic. In “Public Lies, Private Truths,” Mercer’s Opera invites audiences on a musical journey that explores the complexities of connection from first flirtations to fractured marriages.
The production consists of three different one-act operas: Dan Shore’s “An Embarrassing Position,” Lisa Despain’s “Men I'm Not Married To” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti,” according to Mercer Opera Director Samantha Friedman. The show dives into different stages of relationships, Friedman said.
“Each of the one-act operas explores a different point in that journey, from first impressions to long-term partnerships to the unraveling of connection,” Friedman said. "They're funny, awkward and sometimes heartbreaking.”
The operas are set in times ranging from the 1890s to the 1950s. Friedman noted that the themes of navigating truth and illusion are particularly relevant today, especially considering modern advancements in artificial intelligence
“We are surrounded by the shimmer of artificial perfection, the dream of something easier,” Friedman wrote in her director’s note. “But what makes these stories come alive is the messiness underneath: the longing, the humour, the imperfection.”
“Art matters because it reminds us to be human.”
The production opened on Oct. 30 and will run through Nov. 1, according to the event page. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available for purchase through tixr.com.
Friedman said that over 40 students have been involved in this production and that multiple Mercer faculty members, local designers and college students from other universities have been eager to help bring the show to life.
“Opera doesn't just take a village, it takes an army,” she said. But for her, the whole process, from when the show was cast in August to rehearsing three times a week, has been “incredibly rewarding.”
“Some days were laughing at the comedy, and other days were digging into the really emotional moments,” Friedman said. “I'm constantly amazed at how brave and committed the students are.”
Evelyn Ullrich ‘28, a member of the cast, said that doing this show has been very meaningful for her. “The most fulfilling part is the sense of community and shared dedication,” Ullrich said. “There is something special about seeing it come to life and knowing we made it happen from the ground up.”
Friedman wants the audience to leave having felt the honesty of the performance and recognizing a piece of themselves in the story. She wants them to “walk away with their cheeks sore from laughing and their eyes damp from crying.”
Mercer University’s Opera plans to present more shows, including “9-5: The Musical” in February.
Clara Kurczak '29 is majoring in journalism at Mercer University. She loves capturing moments and bringing stories to life with her camera and pen. When she is not working on articles, Clara enjoys listening to music, spending time with the people she cares about and reading anything she can get her hands on.
