Take two journeys to Middle-earth

It’s a good week for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s perennially popular novel “The Hobbit,” with dueling stage productions that tell the story in vastly different ways.

The Sarasota Youth Opera presents two weekend performances of Dean Burry’s musical version written for young voices, while the Venice Little Theatre begins a 10-day run of a play version tonight.

“I think it’s great that people can see both versions,” said Ronald Myroup, director of Patricia Gray’s play in Venice. “I’m sure kids are going to love them. I’ve been a lifelong fan of ‘The Hobbit,’ and the kids love it, too.”

Martha Collins, the Youth Opera stage director, said her young cast members are equally enthusiastic.

“They love this story,” she said. “All you have to tell them is you’re a goblin, and they’re so into it. It’s really staging itself very quickly.”

Both versions share the story of the journey taken by the young hobbit Bilbo Baggins to help the dwarves regain their land and a golden treasure taken by the dragon Smaug.

“They go to the Lonely Mountain; they encounter the spider and the wargs” and other enemies, Collins said. “The opera has kept almost every encounter that occurs in the book.”

Musical director Lance Inouye said Burry’s score covers a range of styles, from straight opera to chants for the children.

“It’s a really unique experience for us as well as the kids because there are things that I’ve never encountered,” Inouye said. “I have to conduct them doing different sound effects, like dripping sounds and hissing sound effects.”

Both Collins and Myroup said their versions are uplifting and positive experiences for young audiences.

“We know the heroes are going to be OK,” Myroup said. “Gandalf uses his power to pull Bilbo into the search for the treasure, and he becomes a strong person in the process.”

Myroup’s large cast features Tony DeNiro as Bilbo, Patrick Mounce as Gandalf and Hayley Balliet as Thorin, the dwarf leader.

In the Youth Opera version, Brooke Saba and Maria Sulimir-ski alternate in the role of Bilbo, while Sarasota Opera studio artist Jeremy Milner plays both Gandalf and Smaug.

Audiences also will encounter Gollum, the Middle-earth creature who was a favorite in the “Lord of the Rings” films.

“He’s a creepy little goblin and he’s also insane,” Inouye said. In the opera, he is played “as though he is a puppet, but the chorus sings all the parts of his insanity, so they’re all involved in playing Gollum. There’s quite a lot of power on the stage at that moment.”

Burry, who lives in Toronto, was commissioned by the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus to create a piece for young voices. He decided on “The Hobbit,” one of his favorite childhood stories, because it is “a great straightforward rollicking adventure story. It touches on race relations, differences between leading a simplistic life and complicated life, and opening your eyes.”

It also helps that there is music built into the story, which made it easier to adapt, he said.

His version had its premiere in 2004, but the Sarasota production will feature the premiere of a new orchestration for a chamber ensemble.

“This is a new kind of version,” he said. “When we did it in Toronto, it was a long one-act opera. We’re doing this one in two acts. And the Sarasota Opera commissioned new orchestrations for about 12 players. It’s going to be nice to have that larger musical support.”