It’s been 30 years since Pontine Theater was founded in Portsmouth. Now, Pontine will kick off its 30th anniversary season with the premier of “Carmen: The Mopera.” This comedic take on a tragic comedy will run from Nov. 2 to 4 at the West End Studio Theatre on Islington Street. “Carmen: The Mopera” will be performed by its creator, guest artist Julie Goell, who comes to Portsmouth from Peaks Island, Maine.

“Carmen: The Mopera” takes place after the curtain has come down on the Bizet opera “Carmen.” All of the actors have gone home and only the cleaning woman remains. As she cleans up, she starts to fantasize about performing in the opera. She uses her mops and brooms as characters while working her way through the entire opera. Goell plays the orchestra, the conductor, the audience and several of the characters. She will utilize her background in mime and clowning to make one woman put on an engaging, physical performance.

Goell is married to Avner Eisenberg, or Avner the Eccentric, who played the Jewell in the movie “Jewell of the Nile,” starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Goell attended Emerson College in Boston and trained as a performer in Italy. She and her husband travel the world performing and teaching. Goell specializes in teaching commedia dell’arte, which is an ancient form of silent acting developed in Italy during the 14th and 15th centuries.  

“She is a terrific performer,” said Marguerite Mathews, founder and co-artistic director of Pontine Theater. “She exudes charm that is endearing to the audience, who end up caring about this woman’s fantasy life. They care about her efforts to lighten her life by her fantasies.”

Mathews is excited for the 30th anniversary season celebrations. “We never thought we would last this long. As a small performance group, you expect it to be a few years, then you’ll move on to something else. We’ve been on edge a few times,” she said. “But, because we’re small, we’ve been able to react quickly when things don’t go well. It offers a lot of flexibility.”

Another reason Pontine has been successful is its longstanding connection to the community, Mathews said. Pontine offers professional theater that both satisfies and expands the community’s tastes. It presents performances that are connected to the history and culture of Portsmouth, like the upcoming adaptation of Thomas Bailey Aldrich’s “The Story of a Bad Boy.”

Aldrich’s 1870 account of growing up as a bad boy in Portsmouth will close Pontine’s 30th anniversary celebration. When the performance debuts at the end of April 2008, Pontine plans to collaborate with Strawbery Banke and the Portsmouth Historical Society. Pontine will also open the courtyard of its 959 Islington St. home at the West End Studio Theater. The courtyard will be open for special functions and during intermissions of Pontine productions. The theater company will also host a reunion of past Pontine board members and supporters. 

Performances of “Carmen: The Mopera” begin on Friday, November 2, at 8 p.m. There will be two shows on Saturday, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and one show on Sunday, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($20 for Saturday matinee). For more information, contact Pontine Theatre at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , or by calling 603-436-6660. Tickets may be purchased online at www.pontine.org.