With its action beginning in 1830, the opera tells the story of Zabette, the mulatto daughter of a slave and the son of a plantation owner. Raised by her paternal grandmother and trained as a nurse, Zabette eventually goes to work for Robert Stafford and bears him four children. The opera tackles the issues of slavery and slave law, prejudice and the status of biracial children, as it chronicles how a family is torn apart by state law, social convention and a lack of love. It is Act I of this production, beautifully filmed by PBS, that will be screened Tuesday evening. Mrs. Bullard will take questions from the audience following the presentation.
Admission is free.
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