The patrons were willing to entertain an oil well and a 1950s Americana re-setting that dramatically differs from Stravinsky's original 18th Century,even though they were a tad skeptical. At first. After all, what could be the symbolism here? A young couple lying on a blanket in front of the derrick, pumping in, pumping out, viscous fluids a-flowing. (Mmm, we can't put our finger on it. Oh no wait, we can: sex.) Fortunately, the whimsical sets by Carl Fillion (for the Robert Lepage and Sybille Wilson directed production) won them over. And after a few scene changes, they were enthusiastically clapping at the wacky decors thrown at them.

Above, William Burden and Laura Aikin, below James Morris and Catherine Cook, and Denyce Graves, pictures Terrence McCarthy/SF Opera.