Research paper on REGINA by Blitzstein

In the process of writing my paper about Marc Blitzstein's Regina, I have found the focus of my work shift dramatically based upon available material about this rarely performed work.

The initial idea driving my paper was that I would be evaluating performance aspects of the show, both from the perspective of the performers and from the perspective of an audience member. However, there is so little material available pertaining to actual performances of the work, and not much of a variety of recorded materials, that this became very difficult to develop. However, the paper has taken an interesting turn of focus that I believe is much more accessible with the sources I have been able to identify.

The new focus of my paper is the derivation of the story from play to opera. The fact that the playwright herself was involved in the adaptation makes this particularly interesting. By looking at sources related to the play itself, I have established a basis of what the initial intent was at how the characters and story were to be presented. From there, the score was consulted to see what has been retained and what has been altered as the story was adapted to the operatic stage. From this, I am working out conclusions as to how effective the adaptation has been, and can assess what might be altered to overcome any shortcomings identified.

This change in focus has allowed more sources to be identified, since sources about the play itself are far more pertinent in discussing the derivation of the show from play to opera than in discussing performance practices of the opera itself. I also believe that this is a more concrete course of thought that allows for real conclusions to be reached, which I was having a very difficult time doing with my initial idea.