Season: 28 January, 2024
The Opera
This operatic version of the story of Goldilocks is based on scenes from operas by W. A. Mozart & J. Offenbach.
Whereas the original Goldilocks never actually meets The Three Bears (other than to be discovered and run away), operatic Goldie begins to interact with the Bear family early in the story. Trying to find her way home after eating soup that doesn’t belong to her, Goldie meets Peek, a little bear. Peek confides to Goldie that a sneaky robber snuck into his family’s house that very morning, licked his spoon and ate his soup. Goldie is horrified, for she knows, of course, that she’s the sneaky soup robber. What should she do? Should she risk getting in trouble by telling the truth? Should she be dishonest and hope to avoid being punished?
After a bit of trial and error, Goldie learns that honesty is always the best choice, and as Mama, Papa & Peek take their new friend home to her mother, Goldie resolves to tell the truth always, and whenever troubles make her sad, to share them with a trusted grownup, like a teacher, police officer, mum or dad.
The Cast
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks
Alex Robinson as Papa Bear
Jamie Hart as Mama Bear/Narrator
David Moseley as Peek (Baby Bear)
Rosalind Robinson as Bluebell
The Composer
Professional opera singer and director John Davies has performed with opera companies throughout the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the opera companies of Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Omaha, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Nashville, and Anchorage. He has also performed in concert as bass-baritone soloist with the symphony orchestras of Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis, Detroit, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Chattanooga and Syracuse.
A father of six children, and grandfather of many more, John takes an active interest in the performing arts for young people. His operas for young audiences have been presented by more than 150 opera companies and university opera programmes in North America - and now also, by one opera company in New Zealand.
Gallery
Some fabulous images of our delicious performance of ‘Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears’ at The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora courtesy of our 2023-2024 season photographer Peter Moore.
Gallery Photographs © Peter Moore for Toi Toi Opera 2024
'Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears' Poster
Half an hour before show time - look at how lovely and colourful you all were Ōtautahi Christchurch!
The stage is set!
Chris Archer - Creative Director of The Arts Centre, giving us a lovely introduction here.
Jamie Hart as Mama Bear/Narrator, introduces the story.
Jamie Hart - Mama Bear/Narrator
The three bears in their first of many a triple-threat acting-singing-dancing number in this opera!
David Moseley as Peek (Baby Bear) and Alex Robinson as Papa Bear.
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks in full-flight bug-catching mode here.
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Rosalind Robinson - Bluebell the Blue Mantua Butterfly.
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks and Rosalind Robinson as the very cheeky Bluebell.
Rosalind Robinson - Bluebell the Blue Mantua Butterfly.
The chase is on!
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
David Moseley - Peek (Baby Bear)
David Moseley - Peek desperately trying to get the attention of his father, Papa Bear - Alex Robinson.
David Moseley - Peek now very desperately trying to get the attention of his father, Papa Bear - Alex Robinson.
Alex Robinson - Papa Bear
David Moseley - Peek (Baby Bear)
'Soup's ready!' Jamie Hart as Mama Bear
'Mmmmm Mama's soup!'
'The soup smells yummy!'
'But it's much too hot!'
The three bears decide to take a walk while their soup cools.
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks, with her pet tarantula Danielle Webster.
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks in ultimate sneaky soup-thievery mode!
Matilda Wickbom as Goldie B. Locks…oh goodness - the bears are heading home - hide, quickly!
Jamie Hart - Mama Bear
Alex Robinson - Papa Bear
Alex Robinson - Papa Bear
Alex Robinson - Papa Bear
Jamie Hart as Mama Bear and David Moseley as Peek (Baby Bear)
Jamie Hart - Mama Bear/Narrator
What a magical place to stage a fairytale opera...
And what a magical audience, too!
David Moseley as Peek, about to re-enter the on-stage action.
We think our fabulous cast might have a future in the Wiggles!
What a beautiful day you put on for us Waitaha Canterbury.
Alex Robinson as Papa Bear, and David Moseley as Peek.
It's another triple-threat moment!
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
Matilda Wickbom - Goldie B. Locks, finding her lost pet tarantula, but almost getting caught by the three bears!
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
Alex Robinson - Papa Bear
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
Goldie, Danielle Webster, and the three bears - here Goldie reveals the truth, she was the sneaky-soup robber!
The three singing (acting and dancing) bears!
A very sorry Goldie B. Locks (with an equally sorry-looking Danielle Webster!) Don’t worry Goldie, all is forgiven - everybody makes mistakes, and telling the truth about them and admitting you did something wrong takes courage! 🤍
Time for the curtain call.
Time for the curtain call.
Beautiful bow team!
Bye everyone!
John Davies (composer)