The obscure and somewhat underdeveloped genre of rock opera will make its way to Smothers Theatre next week via the musical talents of junior Nevin James. The rock opera, which was written entirely by James this past winter, is titled Death and Victory in Paris and takes on some heavy themes.
This work was written to raise awareness of the horrors of human trafficking and to illustrate God’s redemption James said, enumerating other themes including the battle for love the struggle for acceptance and the glory of God’s redemption.”
James whose real name is Rob Shogry has played the piano since he was 7 has been singing for as long as he can remember and began playing the guitar and harmonica the summer before he came to Pepperdine. He said he uses the name Nevin James while performing as a tribute to his grandfather.
“When I play in public or publish any work of art I do it under the name ‘Nevin James’ as a tribute to my grandfather James said. It’s just a thing I do out of respect. Also it is sometimes nice to have an alias as it lets you disappear for a while if you want.”
Part of his motivation in writing the opera was to do something he hadn’t seen anyone around here do before. “I have done so much with the Coffeehouse scene and performing at pubs and bars I just wanted to do something out of that mold James said. I just wanted to do something different than what I’ve seen done around here.”
The rock opera genre which sprang up during the mid-60s features a musical-like plot set to rock songs. It’s creation has been attributed to both The Who guitarist Pete Townshend and to two other musicians Bruce Cockburn and William Hawkins. The genre was actually quite popular in the 1970s including works like “Tommy” by The Who “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” by David Bowie and “The Wall” by Pink Floyd.
A unique aspect of James’ rock opera however is the subject matter he tackles— the issue of sexual slavery and human trafficking. James said he wrote the rock opera to give a voice to silenced slaves.
“I think it’s a tragedy that there are young girls who literally live in sexual slavery all over the world James said. I wrote it to give them a small voice.”
The story focuses on three main characters: Olivia Jesse and Jesse’s mother. Junior Afton Whiddon plays Olivia the female protagonist who was raised as an orphan moves to Hollywood to become an actress. There she meets Jesse played by James himself and they fall in love. But Olivia is kidnapped taken to Europe and forced into prostitution. Jesse disillusioned with life in America follows her to Europe. In the meantime Jesse’s estranged mother embarks on a search for her son. Their three separate stories coalesce to convey the themes of the show.
As the work deals heavily with issues of social justice Pepperdine’s student-run International Justice Mission (IJM) is partnering with James to host the event.
“IJM is a most worthy organization with great leadership James said. I am thrilled to have developed a relationship with them.”
The opera will consist of nine songs that will be performed by various members of the large cast. The show includes a multitude of dancers musicians singers and actors that will be featured in different ways throughout the performance.
The set will be more all-inclusive than traditional sets and will include a screen in the middle of the stage that will display filmed images spray-painted murals a variety of instruments and oriental rugs.
James said he sees art as a channel for change within the world and that artists often have more potential to affect change than political leadership or other authority figures.
“Artists in this society have the potential to be cultural leaders he said, and when they address issues of great importance or moral responsibility they have the potential to reach a huge audience and affect change— more so than anybody in the White House or in Washington.”
Although James’ primary focus for now is on the campus production of “Death and Victory in Paris he is also looking into getting the work filmed.
James said he hopes the message of the rock opera resonates with attendees’ spirituality. I would hope they see from the show that God always provides a way he said. That can mean many things and look a thousand different ways for different people. He has a hand in all of it though. He is the great maestro in this orchestra of a world.”
The show will be performed in Smothers Theatre on Thursday March 25 at 9 p.m.