OTTERBEIN OPERA THEATRE PRESENTS MOZART’S THE MAGIC FLUTE

Otterbein College Opera Theatre will present Mozart’s The Magic Flute at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, in Riley Auditorium of the Battelle Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Park St. Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and Otterbein employees, and $5 for students. They can be purchased at the door or by calling 614-823-1508.

One of Mozart’s best-loved works, The Magic Flute takes place in a fantasy world of handsome princes, demonic queens, evil abductors, serpents and supernatural happenings. Prince Tamino (played by Daniel Lopez-Matthews) is charged with rescuing Pamina (played by Natalee McReynolds), the daughter of the mysterious Queen of the Night (played by Thespina Christulides) who is being held against her will by Sarastro (played by Dan Lama). Tamino and his traveling companion Papageno (played by Jared Joseph) arrive at Sarastro’s temple only to discover that Sarastro is actually trying to protect Pamina from the Queen’s evil influences. Tamino and Papageno must undergo a series of trials before they can be accepted into the brotherhood of the temple and before Tamino and Pamina can finally be together.

The Magic Flute is often referred to as Mozart’s “Masonic Opera” since it contains symbolism and ritual similar to the Masonic order of which Mozart and the opera’s librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, were both members.