The Merry Widow at Lyric Opera

Chicago Sun Times - Recommended

"...For its new production, which debuted Saturday, Lyric Opera turned to Gary Griffin, the Chicago director who has reinvented a slew of Sondheim musicals and staged Broadway's "The Color Purple." His production puts a high premium on buoyant acting, and brings together a number of fine Lyric Opera regulars and notable names from the local musical theater community."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...Light and frothy operettas don't get much respect in the opera world. But getting an operetta's confection of creamy music and comedic wit just right is often more difficult than tapping the tragic tears of grand opera."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...Franz Lehar’s 1905, The Merry Widow, translated by Sheldon Harnick and sung in English is directed by Gary Griffin in his debut at the Lyric Opera of chicago. This sweet, comic and heartwarming sentimental production is one of the celebrated and most popular operettas ever written. Griffin’s wonderfully staged production suffered from some early sound problems including inaudible dialogue and vocals that were corrected in act two and three."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...From the moment the curtain rises, the audience is treated to spectacular sets (Daniel Ostling). The first act is built around a magnificent staircase, several stories high. Later the scene at Maxim’s features a moving stage on stage within a bi-level dance hall. The costumes (David Burke and Mara Blumenfeld) range from early 1900 elegant aristocrat to vibrant gawdy Can-Can dancer. Visually appealing and lighthearted amusing, this production shows how much fun shopping around for a second husband can be."