If I had had to pick on one thing that I thought Shakespeare and Verdi have in common it would have been that neither of them is very funny. Now, I have been a lover of the Bard since I was a teenager, have read nearly all of his plays and acted in a number of them (I believe my interpretation of Lady Macbeth is still talked about at my old boarding school. Not in a good way). The tragedies never fail to move me and the histories are wonderfully, well, historic and all. But the comedies.....It is true that to a great extent my disappointment in them was brought about by the fact that I thought a comedy was something humourous. It is only relatively recently that Elizabeth pointed out to me that a comedy is nothing more than a piece with a happy ending. It is not required to be a barrel of laughs. So, Shakespeare gets a pass on that one.

As to Verdi, let me confess right off the bat that I am not very familiar with the majority of his operas. I know Aida and Rigoletto and Macbeth quite well and Otello a bit but that's about it and let's face it nobody ever went to a production of Aida for its humourous qualities.

All of which leads me to identifying the quality at the heart of PSU Department of Music's current production, Verdi's Falstaff. It's funny, gang. Not a chuckle here and a wry smile there. I am talking un-abashed, laugh out loud, hoot-'n-holler funny. If your idea of a good time is to be thrilled by a 24-carat operatic masterpiece while being carried away by the sheer joy of watching some major comedic talent, then this one is definitely for you.

I expect most of you are pretty familiar with the plot of this opera, based as it is on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor and will know that when it comes down to it the success of any production of this opera hinges on the ability of title character to carry the piece. In this production Richard Zeller plays Sir John Falstaff - for the first time. I strongly suspect that he has discovered his signature role and that were he to choose to do nothing else for the next thirty years other than play Sir John Falstaff in opera houses around the world he could do so - and make a terrific living at it. His performance really is a tour-de-force. Vocally there is never a moment's discomfort but additionally his portrayal of the knight is such a treat. He has the size and presence the role requires topped off by exquisite comedic timing. And that he manages to make us laugh so hard without ever letting the humour run away with him is a tribute to not only his own talents but, I suspect, the result of careful planning by him in concert with director Tito Capobianco.

Important though the name role may be a successful production needs more than a solid Falstaff and in this show there are fine voices aplenty. I was particularly impressed by the performances of the ladies in the cast - Anna Viemeister, Jennifer Davies, Claire Craig-Sheets and Alison Nordyke. In particular, Ms. Viemeister showed extraordinary skill and flair in the role of Alice. She is shortly departing Portland to go to the Manhattan School of Music. She was made to be an opera singer. The men were better than adequate but perhaps had less opportunity to impress. The orchestra was, I thought, surprisingly good. This is hard stuff but under the steady hand of conductor Ken Selden the musicians were totally up to the challenges and played with accuracy and tone.

The production itself was a delight. The set was quite ingenious, having a distinctly Elizabethan look and providing everything needed while not cluttering the stage. The costumes were a pleasure to the eye. As there was no programme available for the dress rehearsal I am unable to credit those responsible by name.

I have already written at some length about director Tito Capobianco. I think all I need say at this juncture is that in bringing his experience and expertise to bear on this production he engendered an atmosphere in which everyone raised their game and gave of their very best resulting in a performance that was a joy to the ear and eye and gave me an opportunity to re-assess just how very professional a student production can be when entrusted to the right hands. Artistic Director Christine Meadows deserves a hearty cheer all of her own for putting this entire project together and providing us with such a delight. Brava!

The show opens tonight and will repeat on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (there will be cast changes on Wednesday and Sunday - not Zeller but some others. Check when you book). You need to go. Not only can I promise you a great time but you will forever after be able to say "I saw Richard Zeller do this role at PSU - before he did it at the Met!" and "Anna Viemeister? Oh, I remember seeing her in Portland when she was still a student. She had the makings of a diva even then, you know." You can click here for more information and to purchase tickets.