The reach of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novella The Little Prince is undeniable. First published in 1943, The Little Prince has seen numerous adaptations from films to tabletop games. Its story features profound life lessons about loneliness, friendship, and sacrifice through a child’s eyes which has made it popular among young and old audiences alike.
On Feb. 19, Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) unveiled a new production by company Artistic Director Brenna Corner of Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright’s The Little Prince at the historic Royal Theatre in downtown Victoria. Though The Little Prince has been a popular choice for opera companies since its 2003 premiere at Houston Grand Opera, POV brought new life to the work with their incredible casting and imaginative set and costume designs.
Cast of Pacific Opera Victoria’s The Little Prince (2025). Photo: Timothy Matheson Photography
Stars Amongst the Stars: Andrew Love and Jake Apricity Hetherington
The opera begins with the Pilot (Andrew Love) describing a childhood memory that fuelled his becoming a pilot. Canadian baritone Love was exemplary in the role, showcasing clear and full vocals throughout his performance. For most of the opera, the Pilot acts as a narrator recounting how the Little Prince ends up on Earth. Love proved a wonderful storyteller, commanding attention with his powerful vocals. The baritone was a subtle actor, giving his portrayal of the Pilot a certain realness and down-to-earth nature that grounded the otherwise fantastical plot.
The title character was played by 9-year-old Jake Apricity Hetherington from Vancouver, BC. On this night, Hetherington made history as the youngest performer worldwide to play the role of the Little Prince. She demonstrated incredible skill in her vocal performance and avoided the pitfall of overacting despite the many wacky scenarios featured in The Little Prince. In fact, she perfectly captured the range of the Prince’s emotions. For example, she sang with a palpable sadness in “On My Planet,” where the Prince describes what will happen if his rose dies.
In the title role, Hetherington had good rapport with all the characters, but the relationship between the Pilot and the Prince was especially moving. When the Prince returns to his planet at the end of the opera, I felt a strong tug on my heartstrings. Love and Hetherington’s brilliant performances made their characters seem like true friends seeing each other for the last time.
Jake Apricity Hetherington (the Prince) and Andrew Love (the Pilot) in Pacific Opera Victoria’s The Little Prince (2025). Photo: Timothy Matheson Photography.
The World Through the Eyes of a Child
Set designer James Rotondo and lighting designer Sophie Tang met the challenges presented by The Little Prince, which travels from the deserts of Africa to the asteroid B-612. Rotondo furnished the stage with charming sets and props that had cartoonish thick black outlines, making them look hand drawn. The backdrop was a navy blue sky filled with canvas stars and planets, which could each shine individually when light was directed through them from behind the stage.
Early in the opera, I was delighted by the golden light projection of the Pilot’s drawings of a boa constrictor and sheep onto the white wall behind him while he described them to the audience. As for the ever-changing settings, great use was made of trap doors to reveal relevant props and characters.
Judith Bowden’s costumes were just as playful, leaning into the childlike imagination of the plot. She outfitted the Victoria Children’s Choir with white overalls and purple toques that balanced stars on their heads. Most of the characters—including the stars and inhabitants of the other planets—were styled with white pants or shirts decorated with black doodles. These details made the characters appear like the Pilot’s drawings, just as the sets seem to be hand drawn. The combination of Rotondo, Tang, and Bowden’s designs add an extra dimension to the opera, posing the question: is the story of The Little Prince just the Pilot’s creation?
Cast of Pacific Opera Victoria’s The Little Prince (2025). Photo: Emily Cooper Photography
Masterful Victoria Symphony
This production’s success was boosted by the masterful playing of the Victoria Symphony conducted by Giuseppe Pietraroia. The orchestra allowed the singers to shine, never overpowering those on stage. However, when given their own moments to shine, they grabbed them. One of these was during the sunset scene on the Prince’s planet. As on stage forces passed a large sparkling golden ball representing the descending sun, the orchestra carried the moment with their hopeful melodic strains.
The Victoria Children’s Choir was equally impressive, providing the polished vocals required to fill the Royal Theatre. The choir’s beautiful blend made the journey seem all the more magical.
POV renewed the audience’s childlike wonder with its enchanting The Little Prince. From the stage to the pit, this production captured all the innocence and specialness of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s acclaimed novella.
Pacific Opera Victoria has three more showings of The Little Prince from Feb 21-25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.pacificopera.ca
