Sally Wingert as Maria Callas in "Master Class." Photo by Kyndell Harkness.
"Master Class" just opened Saturday and it's already being extended. The Theater Latte Da production, featuring Sally Wingert as opera legend Maria Callas, will add five performances and close on Nov. 9.
The play is being performed at Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music. It is based on a series of master classes Callas gave at Juilliard in the early 1970s. Wingert's performance is strikingly complete in its technical and emotional development.
Too, the venue is perfectly matched to the work. You can see every wrinkle in Wingert's face (she probably won't want to hear that) and this sense of intimacy makes the portrayal that much more immediate.
Peter Rothstein's production includes a transcendent moment for Kira Lace Hawkins, as one of the sopranos that Callas badgers during her teaching session. The play itself, by Terrence McNally, is not much more than a performance vehicle and Rothstein keenly pushes his staging in that direction.
Additional shows are now at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5-8 and 2 p.m. Nov. 9. Ticket information is here.
