OperaMetro had the privilege of interviewing Marian Shulman, who stars as Dame Carruthers in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard, performed by The Troupers Light Opera in the Norwalk Concert Hall this Saturday and next.

OperaMetro (OM): Hello Marian! You bring to this Troupers performance a wealth of experience on stage and off. Before getting into your character of Dame Carruthers, tell me about the various capacities through which you contribute to the success of each season.

Marian (MS): Thank you for this. Last year, the character I played, Ruth, was described as "a pirate maid of all work," which I use to describe myself most of the time! But offstage, my principal (no pun intended) areas of responsibility have been planning and recruiting, costuming, scheduling, and all-round problem solving. I am a worrier, so I am one of the people who asks "Has anyone arranged for...has anyone reminded them...do we have any volunteers for...what are we going to do about..." because the whole boat floats on a sea of details! Also, I have been working in the theater for more than 50 years, so I have ended up with a working knowledge of a lot of different areas, so keep a watchful (worried!) eye on most things! Our president, Bill Abbott is the show's producer, but he pays me the compliment, as vice-president of naming me co-producer. We are actually a pretty good team!

OM: Part of the success of Troupers year after year is your ability to attract devoted performers and also young singers. Do you have any favorite sources of young talent?
MS: As you can imagine, this is a huge challenge for us! Honestly, word of mouth is our most valuable recruiting method. We also list our auditions on every site we can think of, let voice teachers know, ask current former singers for recommendations, and somehow manage to assemble casts every year. Saying this, I am thinking "maybe someone reading this might be tempted to join us!"

This year, we have a new stage director (Nancy L Meyer) and conductor (Zachary Kampler) who are incredibly busy doing shows all over Fairfield County and beyond, so several very talented new cast members are people they have worked with previously and encouraged to audition. We are very glad to have them! And as an amusing side note, the silent role of the executioner is being played by Mat Young, who Nancy and Zach worked with as their leading man in Joyful Noise at the Town Players of New Canaan. He is an extremely accomplished actor, but doesn't sing at all, so he is making his "musical" debut without ever opening his mouth!

OM: What, in your experience with the company, are some of the standout seasons by the Troupers?

MS: I think our Italian Renaissance Mikado was a true stand-out. Doing a comic show set in another show leads some people to assume that we are making fun of that culture, and in this case moving the story from a mythical Japan to a mythical 15th century Milan works pretty well to allay those concerns. The cast was particularly strong as well. Loads of fun to costume too, say I in my capacity as costume designer! I also remember the Die Fledermaus that we did about a decade ago with particular fondness. It is a show that fits the same effect as Gilbert and Sullivan, and has spectacular music!

OM: I remember all of these! I thought The Red Mill was wonderful too. Over the years, who are your favorite characters, the ones you’ve sung? Who are your favorite characters, the ones you admire but never get a chance to sing, male or female?

MS: Mad Margaret stands head and shoulders above all of the mezzo characters that I have sung, followed closely by Phoebe from this show, which I played when I was a lot younger than I am now! They are both character roles, which for me is more interesting than the straight romantic roles. In some future lifetime, I want to come back as a bass and sing Pooh-Bah, Dick Deadeye, and Sir Despard!

OM: Dame Carruthers is an interesting character. Early on in the drama she seems to convey bloodthirstiness with pride, the more the merrier. And in the opening of Act Two she chastises the Yeomen for losing Fairfax. Are there any role models we’d recognize to shape your characterization?

MS: Dame Caruthers is the ultimate matriarch. As the Housekeeper of the Tower of London, she runs everything. The Lord Lieutenant may think he is in charge, but woe betide any man who tries to get in her way! She identifies with the Tower, which is a fortress of strong immovable stone, and you hear it in her song. Sometimes the "I" is the Dame and sometimes it is the Tower itself.

OM: Yet she caves in at the advances of Sergeant Meryll. What pulls her off her high pedestal? What is her motivation to yield to his advances?

MS: This is just an example of Gilbert making fun of older, and particularly unmarried women. Modern singers just have to manage as best they can with stereotypes which are anathema to modern sensibilities. There is always an implicit assumption that the maiden lady is looking for a mate, and it is pretty well spelled out in Yeomen. Dame Caruthers has been lusting after Sgt. Meryll for years, so she isn't "yielding" to him - she is finally achieving her heart’s desire!

OM: Bless her! What are your favorite shows, outside of G & S?
MS: From G&S, we slide right over to Mozart! Don Giovanni is my favorite of all time, with Le Nozze di Figaro as a close second!

OM: Mozart! Certainly!

When you are not performing or thinking about the season, what do you do for fun and relaxation?

MS: We function all year 'round! Last November we did a highly successful concert of Gilbert and Sullivan favorites at St. Paul's Episcopal, and hope to do something similar this fall, so the planning has to start immediately. Board members are already mumbling to each other about what show we might schedule for next year, so it never really stops.

When I am really not thinking about the company, I love to travel with my husband, which we are starting up this summer after a three year pandemic hiatus! I read a lot, garden a little, and try to get a little rest in!

OM: Same here. My wife and I are looking forward to getting out of Dodge this summer or fall. Thank you so much, Marian for your words and thoughts. We’re looking forward to The Yeomen of the Guard!

Troupers presents The Yeomen of the Guard this Saturday (April 15) at 2:30 and 7:30 at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 304 Main Avenue #456, Norwark, CT 06851 and repeats this (April 22), same times and same place. For ticket information visit trouperslightopera.org.

Great to be back again!! OM

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