Festival Opera productions are a little uneven

The opera begins with Alaine Rodin as Clara singing "Summertime." She does a beautiful job, and from that moment forward, it doesn't let down.

All the popular hits that came from this show ("I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," "It Ain't Necessarily So") live up to high expectations — but at least as much fun are the lesser-known gems (Lori Brown Mirabal as Serena mourning her dead husband in "My Man's Gone Now").

In addition to excellent vocal performances, the cast has created well-rounded, sympathetic characters. Haqumai Sharpe deserves particular mention for his detestably slimy, smooth characterization of Sportin' Life, capped off with his fluid body movements.

And the brutish Crown (Ashley Howard Wilkinson) is so physically built that he looks as if he could rival the Incredible Hulk — which makes him all the more dominating over the petite Bess (Rachelle Perry Ward).

Ward, and Richard Hobson as Porgy, also deserve mention for outstanding performances in the lead roles.

The only thing in this production of "Porgy & Bess" that doesn't deserve a positive review is the set changes, which occurred frequently enough and took long enough that during the reviewed performance last weekend, it brought the opera's momentum to an abrupt halt, while the audience listened to various thumps and bangs backstage.