Florida
Randall Eng
About this work:
"Florida" is an opera/music-theatre piece in two acts, with libretto by Donna DiNovelli. It has been performed at New York City Opera's "Vox 2002: Showcasing American Composers" festival and at the Public Theater's "New Composers Now!" festival, and was given a workshop production at Lyric Opera Cleveland in July 2006.
Dramatic Synopsis:
Inspired by an actual incident and set in the suburbs, "Florida" is a highly stylized piece that revolves around Florida Fandango, a 16-year-old girl whose boyfriend kills her mother. Although innocent, Florida is subsequently put on trial for conspiracy to commit matricide. The narrative in Florida moves back and forth between scenes that lead up to the murder and a series of monologues that take place after the murder, during Florida's second trial.
In Act I, the residents of a cold suburban town await the arrival of summer. The Redwoods, Florida’s neighbors, sit on their redwood deck, watching all. Florida’s daily life, once divided between kitchen chores, school, and her boyfriend Marc, is about to radically change. While Marc looks forward to spending his summer with Florida, another plan is afloat. Florida’s mother, One Dead Mother, has already negotiated for Florida’s summer employment away from home. While away, Florida falls in love with another boy, Sasha. Marc, blaming One Dead Mother and egged on by the Redwood Children, strangles One Dead Mother in a fit of rage.
Act II revolves around Florida’s first and second trials for conspiracy to commit matricide. Under pressure from the state, Marc insists that the murder was Florida’s idea. The community is eager to put Florida on trial, and they quickly paint her as a symbolic, Cleopatra-like figure. However, the Redwoods, now acting as Florida’s jury, split down the middle and cannot reach a decision. A hung jury is thus created, ostensibly freeing Florida from her ordeal. As the verdict is read, the jury foreman winks at Florida to allay her fears, to let her know that the outcome will be in her favor. When the media witnesses this act, the uproar over the murder is re-kindled. "She manipulated the jury, just like she manipulated Marc!" the newspapers report. "Now it’s Okay to Kill Your Mother!" another headline screams. The state promises to re-try the case, and ten years later, at the age of 26, we revisit Florida, awaiting her second trial.
Year composed: 2006
Duration: 02:00:80
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Opera, More than One Act, without Chorus
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Horn in F, 1 Trumpet, 1 Trombone, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 3 Violin, 1 Viola, 1 Cello, 1 Double bass, 1 Harp, ,1 Soprano soloist(s), ,2 Mezzo-Soprano soloist(s), ,1 Alto soloist(s), ,1 Tenor soloist(s), ,2 Baritone soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: A version of the score for full orchestra also exists.