Stage

The stage is divided into two sets. On stage right is the porch and yard of Vasya’s home; on stage left is a Romany (Gypsy) camp. The action alternates between the two sets. A wall or curtain may serve as a divide, or the scenes may be delineated by means of lighting.

Costuming

All costumes are traditional Russian Romany attire of the nineteenth century. Vasya (as Vasya Whitefeet) wears very elaborate clothing, but as Vasya the fool he is adorned very shabbily.

Instrumentation

As the opera is to be performed by children, instrumentation is kept to a minimum. The score calls for piano four-hands, violin, tambourine, triangle and large bodhran. The piano score is suitable for advancing beginners, and the percussion parts are likewise very simple. While the violin part is entirely in first position, it assumes a moderate degree of facility in playing double-stops, harmonics, and slightly unusual rhythmic patterns.

Vocal Parts

Since the work is designed for children rather than for professional singers, most of the dialogue is spoken. The vocal lines are constructed as fairly simple songlike passages and require few extensive solos. The compass is from c' to e-flat". Several choruses are incorporated, all to be sung in unison, and these allow all the cast to participate musically in the production.