Music by Thomas Carlo Bo
Libretto by Thomas Carlo Bo, Lou Rodgers, and Adam Samtur
Additional lyrics by Lou Rodgers

 

Cast:

Lizzie - soprano
Danny - tenor
Johnny - baritone

 

Orchestra:
piano
clarinet in Bb/ tenor sax
percussion – cuban drum/ bongos /cymbal / snare
cello

 

 

Boldly infused with jazz idioms and a distinctly 'film noir' feel, Shadows of the City earned high praise from audiences and critics. "Mr. Bo writes wonderfully for the voice and has a solid flare for capturing the drama in his music" wrote Aaron Michaels. "The score is direct, fresh and atmospheric and makes beautiful use of the three voices. In the accompaniment, scored for piano, tenor sax /clarinet and percussion (bongos, snare drum and cymbal) Bo makes impressive use of this very spare ensemble, creating a score with a wide range of texture and color. His use of the bongos in this score is a magical touch."

 

Noted composer Seymour Barab wrote upon having seen the premiere produced by Golden Fleece Ltd: "I found it thoroughly engrossing, one of the most satisfying musical works I have heard in the last few years."

 

The work will see its second run at New Jersey City University in April 2011.

 

 

Synopsis:

It is the 1940s in a major U.S. metropolis.  Lizzie and Danny are a newly married couple living in a tenement apartment and struggling financially.  Driven by feelings of desperation and ambition for an easier life, Danny has found a source of income that will draw him into the criminal underworld.  As he waits on the street for Johnny, the local hood, Danny contemplates his choices (‘The street seems quiet tonight’).

 

Back in the apartment, Lizzie dreams of a vacation with Danny (‘I’d be so happy…’), and when he arrives home they reminisce of their first date, but the memories are clouded by Danny’s worries about the future and Lizzie’s suspicions of Danny’s work.

 

Out on the street, Johnny weighs the dangers and payoffs of his life as a criminal (‘There’s a chill breeze blowin’ tonight’).  He’s worried about the prospect of violence on this next job and hopes that Danny is tough enough to do what needs to be done.

 

Alone in the apartment, Lizzie laments the turn their lives have taken (‘Through my window day after day’); after such a beautiful courtship, to now be plagued by worries and fears.  Then she overhears a conversation between Johnny and Danny outside the apartment:  Danny messed up a delivery and will need to meet Johnny again tonight.

 

Later, as Danny prepares to leave, Lizzie asks him not to go but he won’t heed her.  In a trio (with Lizzie in the apartment, Danny outside, and Johnny down the street), Lizzie acknowledges the end of their love and loss of innocence; while Danny, feeling empowered, sings of how he’ll be able to get Lizzie everything she wants, and Johnny ominously confirms that this job could be the one that gets them killed.