Porgy and Bess at the Lyric Opera is like watching real life

Doors fly open as the set slowly starts to open and light begins to shine through cracks in the wall. Porgy slowly walks toward the light, looking into a future so bright he must close his eyes. And then, just as fast as the stage illuminated, it turns dark. These are the final moments of Porgy and Bess presented by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a show that made me think so much about the material. Every character in this show feels so real and alive; I can feel each character's past, desires and emotions throughout. 

As a teenager in this modern musical space that is so full of fast-paced, all-over-the-place musicals, it felt really nice to slow down and enjoy a slower-paced story that truly took its time developing everything.

I had seen this show a few years ago so I had an idea of what to expect walking in, but I was still transformed by this production. Every part of this show was genuinely enjoyable and I would easily recommend it to any opera fans.

The show follows Porgy and his life in a small, poor community preparing for a hurricane. Porgy's life in the town gets increasingly more difficult after he catches feelings for Bess. Bess’s boyfriend Crown, doesn't like this and chaos and violence ensue. 

One of my favorite performances was Jermaine Smith as Sportin’ Life. His portrayal felt fun and energetic while also conveying a strong understanding of the heavier aspects of the character. He’s a truly kooky, crazy character and exactly the energy you’d expect from someone selling drugs on the street—doing bell kicks while flaunting “happy dust” to the other characters.

Another huge standout was the beautiful set design by Peter J. Davis. The main set felt so lived-in, like a genuine housing block. Then the walls came falling down, making the more intimate scenes feel much more crowded and small. At the end of Act 1, there’s an amazing moment where the whole set lifts up to leave us at an oceanside theme park that had me questioning how there was even room to fit all of it in the wings.

The best part of the show, however, was the gorgeous sound of the production. The Kansas City Symphony created a beautiful musical undertone throughout the entire production. The music transported me to this small island in South Carolina. On top of the orchestrations were the wonderful vocal performances, which were powerful when they needed to be but also quiet during calmer moments.

This show took me on a wonderful journey where every part felt like I was watching real life and it's been a long time since I have felt so immersed in a performance. Given the violent themes, I think this show would be appropriate for older teens and adults. The show really helped me realize the type of life I have and left me thinking about so many things.