Peter was a chimpanzee happily minding his own business in the Gold Coast with his family group when he was shot twice and captured. On being taken to "civilization," he decided to become a human. Judging from hints in the libretto, he seems to have been aided in this by a trainer and the Director, as well as other teachers who have had the disconcerting habit of going mad or themselves becoming ape-like. The opera opens immediately after Red Peter's capture and shows the inspiration that made him decide to become human, put on clothes, and begin to speak - or rather sing. The rest of the opera takes place much later - five or six years later, to judge from one or two of the comments he makes - and covers two days in his life, leading to the climax of his metamorphosis, his report to the Academy, which will confirm him as completely human.

During the two days, he becomes involved with two women, both of whom work on the Academy Distinguished Visiting Speakers Committee and who are known to each other and the Director: Kaye and Frieda. At one point, in the company of Kaye, he dreams of his past life as a chimpanzee. The events become further complicated by the presence of a number of chimps who wander through the human world, seeming to have anticipated Peter in becoming - if not fully human like him - partially human in that they can act and talk like humans. The unfortunate corollary? The Director himself gradually becomes more and more chimp-like and, in what should be his moment of triumph at the Academy, completely succumbs.

Mark Morris - Librettist

Photo: Don Lee

". . . a wonderful piece of music theatre."
Norbert Ruebsaat
The Globe and Mail

Photo: Don Lee

". . . a great production to take people to who say they don't like opera because it's long and in a language they don't understand. This opera is just over an hour long and is sung in English. And chimpanzee!"
Claire Stirling
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