Category: Theatre

If you ask me, “Did you enjoy the performance of Dead Man Walking?” I’m not sure if I can say yes. “Enjoy” would probably not be the right word. However, it was a performance that I truly appreciated and would never forget.

The storyline of Dead Man Walking, an opera by Jake Heggie, is based on a book and a true story from Sister Helen Prejean. Sister Helen served as a spiritual counselor to a death row inmate, Joseph De Rocher, who is convicted for raping and killing a high school girl.

To me, the staging of this performance made the story feel very real. Granted, I have never been involved in any situations where death penalty was involved. However, the cast and the musicians in pit orchestra portrayed the intricate feelings surrounding deaths, which made me — and many, many others in the audience — cry, if not sob. It made me examine the effects that murders and death sentence have on the families, supporters, and the convicts themselves, and it served as a conversation-starter for such topics with my friends in the following few days.

All of the singers expressed their characters very well, but one cast that has done an exceptional job was Ms. Lani Stait, who played the role of Mrs. De Rocher, or Joseph’s mother. This role was a difficult one to play – from receiving demeaning comments from the victims’ families to dealing with the dilemma of knowing how kind her son actually is compared to the terrible crime he has committed, this character is loaded with emotions that are difficult to act out, especially for a college-aged singer. She truly became the character, and sang her heart out. Her strength and struggles truly hit my heart.

I did not “enjoy” the performance in terms of having fun — that wasn’t the point of this opera. Instead, I left the theater thinking more about criminal justice, religion, and family — all of which I need to think about, although I don’t get to on a daily basis. It was not an easy opera to watch. This performance combined well-written music and libretto, extraordinary talent of all singers and instrumentalists, and effective lighting, to make the audience seriously reflect on themselves.

If you want to go to the scariest, most powerful, and most thought-provoking event during this weekend, this is the one. Based on a book by Sister Helen Prejean, “Dead Man Walking” by Jake Heggie is one of the most performed contemporary operas today.

The story, as taken from the School of Music website, goes like this:

“Dead Man Walking tells the true story of [Sister Helen Prejean’s] experience as a spiritual advisor to a convict on Louisiana’s death row. Through his appeals for pardon to the inevitable final execution, Sister Helen stands by Joe de Rocher despite her internal struggle to reconcile her faith in his humanity with the heinousness of his crimes. Her unpopular and controversial choice to attempt to save his soul leads to confrontations with those closely affected by his actions. A powerful tale of compassion and the effect of crime on the families of both the victim and perpetrator, Dead Man Walking is both inspirational and devastating.”

As the students in the School of Music, Theater, and Dance pour their heart into the production for countless hours, their performances will surely leave you with some intense feelings and food for thought. And what’s even better? This performance is on the Passport to the Arts, so you can actually get a free ticket!

Be advised that this opera contains violence and vulgarity.

When: Thursday, November 13, at 7:30pm*; Friday-Saturday, November 14-15, at 8pm; Sunday, November 16, at 2pm

Where: Power Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets: Students $10 with ID (or free using the Passport to the Arts); buy online or at Michigan League Ticket Office

* Sister Helen Prejean, the author of the original book, will be present to lead a discussion session after Thursday’s performance.