This stage production, originally created for the Santa Fe Opera, is updated to the late-WWII moment, when American troops were liberating remote Italian villages. Directed by Stephen Lawless, with colorful scenery and costumes designed by Ashley Martin-Davis, the production abounds with effective, amusing details. The ABCs on the school blackboard are partially erased to read "NO" when Adina rebuffs Nemorino in Act I, and then modified to read "Natura" when she explains her fickle nature, and then modified again by the smitten Nemorino to read "N+A" enclosed in a heart. A man clutches his beloved chicken in horror while watching the menu appear on that same blackboard, with every course of the planned wedding feast featuring a chicken dish. Giannetta stuffs her bra with fruit from the table, then gives up, pulls out the fruit, and takes a bite. Dr. Dulcamara raises his hands as if expecting to be arrested whenever someone calls out to him.

Instead of being the town bumpkin, as in traditional performances, Nemorino is here an auto mechanic who gazes longingly across the town square at Adina, the town's schoolteacher. We're always charmed to see children in operas, so we greatly enjoyed watching the small gang of kids running in and out. We were less enthralled with Belcore's GIs, who seemed to point their rifles at the townsfolk for no reason. These are supposed to be chocolate soldiers! Who needs reality in a comic love story?

Nevertheless, the singing was wonderful — Acosta's Nemorino was a standout — and the whole experience was lovely. The opening night audience was appropriately dolled up, as only Seattelites can do, in that mixture of sparkly dresses, crazy ties, stiletto heels, and cool sneakers. The house was nearly full on opening night, less so at the Sunday matinee performance. More than half of the audience members were masked, and most observed social distancing.

It was a jolly crowd, prepared to be pleased. When Nemorino sang his big aria, "Quanto è bella!" (How beautiful she is!) the audience seemed to feel the same way — about the music, the story, and being back in the enchanted atmosphere of McCaw Hall.