Opera Synopsis
“A Kind Man” explores themes of love, loss, and the mysterious power of human compassion. Set in a small rural community, the story follows Eve as she cares for her terminally ill husband, Tommy, whose sudden and miraculous recovery defies all expectations. As Tommy’s newfound ability to heal others comes to light, the opera delves into the complexities of their relationships with family, friends, and the broader community.
The narrative is both intimate and profound, capturing the struggles and hopes of its characters as they navigate the extraordinary events that unfold. “A Kind Man” offers audiences a moving exploration of the human condition, the mysteries of life and death, and the enduring power of love.
In her sister’s cottage, Miriam and her son Arthur are waiting for Eve to come from upstairs, where she is tending her husband Tommy who is dying from cancer. When Eve appears, Miriam sends her son home. Miriam complains to Eve about her own husband, contrasting him to Tommy; her frustration with her life boils over and she picks an argument with Eve. This sisterly spat doesn’t last long. Before she leaves, Miriam reflects to her sister how no-one knows when they have it good until it’s too late.
Eve is alone, there is a knock at the door, it is Doctor McElvey. After a brief chat about her husband, the doctor goes upstairs to see Tommy.
When he returns, he asks Eve leading questions about how she thinks Tommy has been over the last few weeks, days, hours. The doctor leaves, promising to return the next day.
Eve is desperate and in a state of shock, but she makes herself calm before returning upstairs to her husband.
Eve looks up from the grave of her daughter, down the path. She is shocked and perplexed when her husband Tommy arrives. He appears to be completely healthy, dressed for the outdoors in his jacket. Tommy tries to explain this stunning turn of events to his wife. He is confused, exhilarated and hopeful now, but for Eve it is perhaps too much take in. Taking her arm, Tommy leads them home.
A month has passed. In his office, Doctor McElvey is at a loss about Tommy’s apparent reprieve from his cancer, and also the gift he seems to have acquired to heal others. After Tommy arrives, the doctor all but accuses him of being a charlatan. Tommy doesn’t argue his case, but denies the doctor’s reproaches.
Tommy in turn asks the doctor why he cannot accept what he, the doctor, has witnessed: the inexplicable ‘healing’ Tommy carried out on a terribly wounded man. Leaving the doctor to this quandary, Tommy returns home.
Some weeks later in the Carr’s cottage, Tommy and Arthur are tidying it up after a game of dominoes. Miriam is vociferous in her criticism of Tommy’s lack of business sense, now that Tommy is inundated with people wanting to benefit from his healing powers. Tommy leaves to once more help someone.
Eve affirms her pride and belief in her husband. Miriam, however, is drained, near the end of her tether with her own useless husband and family of four young sons. She tentatively suggests that perhaps Eve and Tommy could take Arthur into their home, adopting him. Eve is shocked that Miriam would give up any of her own children, and the conversation grinds to a halt.
Later that same day, Tommy is visiting the prosperous home of Daphne Arnold and her son Henry. Henry is in a desperate anxiety about his mother’s health. He takes Tommy’s jacket for him when Tommy sits by his mother. Without much ado, Tommy takes her hands and then, somehow, she is relieved of the chronic pain that blights her.
Both Henry and his mother ask that Tommy will take some money for what he has done, but he refuses talk of payment. Tommy’s jacket is returned to him and he leaves, leaving Daphne and her son amazed and mystified at the ‘miracle’ that has occurred.
Two days later at their cottage, Tommy is laying out some modest gifts for Eve on the kitchen table. When she comes in from the garden, Eve is surprised and pleased with the presents, but wonders how they can afford them. Tommy explains that the day before he had discovered cash in an envelope in his jacket pocket, evidently put there by Henry Arnold. Tommy had been in a dilemma as to what to do but he eventually considered that perhaps they, Eve in particular, deserved this.
It occurs to Tommy that as another gift he ought to ‘heal’ Eve’s chronic tiredness. When he tries to do this with his ‘gift’, nothing happens. Eve thinks that perhaps he is too tired, or perhaps Tommy’s ability cannot work on her, as his wife. Tommy wonders whether it has anything to do with the Arnold’s money.
Tommy has died after his cancer returned. Three months later, Miriam is visiting her sister, and they talk about Tommy’s last days. Eve is determined to remain at the cottage she shared with Tommy, which due to the Arnolds’ money, she now can. Miriam invites her sister to come to her home for tea, or if she prefers, her son Arthur can visit his auntie. Eve accepts that if Arthur wants to stay with her for a while, she will agree to it.
After her sister leaves, Eve’s thoughts again turn to Tommy and his last illness.
Her thoughts are interrupted by the early arrival of Arthur, who has bought his auntie some flowers. They chat briefly until Arthur raises the idea of staying with Eve. Inwardly relieved at the prospect Eve agrees. Arthur runs back to his old home to gather together some of his things.
A Kind Man: An Opera of Resilience, Love, and Miraculous Redemption. Contact us to discuss licensing A Kind Man.
