THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510250122
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: UFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
DURING THE SCHOOL day, Brinton Eckles enjoys singing in the Lakeland High School chorus.
In recent evenings, however, Brinton sang lyrics of ``Rigoletto'' - in Italian - while traveling to rehearsals at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.
Brinton, 14, and his 11-year-old stepbrother, Aaron Frazier, were the youngest members in the cast of the recent production by the Virginia Opera.
After seven performances in Norfolk, the boys appeared in the opera at the Concert Hall of George Mason University in Fairfax and the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond.
``I've memorized most of the music,'' said Brinton, who has perfect tone and pitch in spite of nerve deafness in one ear. ``I'm on stage (as an actor) during the first act, and it's fun.''
Brinton was introduced to opera last spring by his stepmother, Mary Eckles, a member of the Virginia Opera's women's chorus. When she heard that the cast of ``La Boheme'' called for youngsters ages 11 to 14, she asked Brinton to audition.
``I was curious and wondered what it would be like,'' he said. ``I've met lots of neat people.''
Brinton appeared as an altar boy in 11 performances of ``La Boheme,'' made friends with the cast, and was so comfortable on stage that he was eager to appear in ``Rigoletto.''
A tragedy, ``Rigoletto'' is set in the 16th century in Mantua, Italy. Brinton's costume included tights, red knee pants and vest, a gold and red shirt and gold cape.
``Brinton had to sign a contract saying that he was willing to wear makeup, costumes and wigs,'' said his mother, Gay Weeks. ``The first time, the costume was an adjustment, but now, the more bizarre . . . the better he likes it.''
He said: ``When I get to the opera house, I go to the dressing room, put on my costume and play cards until they call me. Thirty seconds after the curtain opens, the duke calls me, and I run over to him.''
Playing the part of a page, Brinton is summoned to carry messages to members of the cast on stage. While it appears that he is relaying a message to the ``Countess Ceprano,'' Brinton says the singer sometimes asks him how school was that day.
Occasionally, unrehearsed events take place that only the cast is aware of, Brinton said. During the dress rehearsal of ``Rigoletto,'' the opera house, which was filled to capacity, was plunged into darkness.
``The chorus just stopped singing,'' Brinton said, smiling. ``In ``La Boheme,'' a guy was supposed to push a lady slightly so she would drop some boxes, but he pushed her so hard, she fell down and slid across the stage. Once, an actress tripped on a walnut, and it shot out into the audience.''
The Weeks family, which includes Brinton's sister, Ashley, recently moved from Virginia Beach to an area between Holland and Franklin. Driving Brinton to and from rehearsals and performances requires teamwork of his mother, stepfather, Howard Weeks, and maternal grandmother, Juanita Cowling of Virginia Beach.
``My grandmother is the `star of transportation,' '' said Brinton, who occasionally depends on her to pick him up after classes at Lakeland. He studies and eats dinner at her home before arriving at the stage door at 7 p.m. His mother or stepdad is on hand at 9 p.m. for the hour's drive home.
``Rehearsals mean late evenings, but I can feed them anything at 10 o'clock at night,'' Gay Weeks said, laughing. ``I would make any sacrifice for my children to have an opportunity to be exposed to opera. I'm not even sure Brinton realizes what an opportunity it is. But if he didn't enjoy it, we wouldn't put the time and effort into it.''
When performances are scheduled out of town, Brinton's family often accompanies him for a weekend trip. Otherwise, he rides on the ``kids' bus'' with a chaperone.
Paid a stipend for his roles in the operas, Brinton is saving the money to buy a stereo. He is looking forward to auditioning for the Virginia Opera's spring production of ``Carousel.''
A freshman at Lakeland, Brinton enjoys studying algebra, playing football, basketball and soccer, and learning to read music in the school chorus.
On weekends, Brinton visits his father, Gary Eckles, in Hampton. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN
Brinton Eckles, 14, and his stepbrother, Aaron Frazier, 11, were the
youngest members in the cast of the Virginia Opera's ``Rigoletto.''
by CNB