An Opera Experience

Posted by Vulnadia on May 06, 2009 at 03:14 PM Saturday night, my eldest son and I had a hot date to see Husband in the Opera, "Manon Lescaut." Poor Bregon had been up since 6a.m., but was somehow bathed dressed and ready to go on time for that 7:30 call/curtain. Since Husband wasn't on until Act 2, his call was actually the same as curtain which meant that we could all ride together! My inlaws would be meeting us down there and my eldest would ride home with them once everything was over so that I could accompany Husband to the after party. Bregon had never been to an Opera before, but I assured him that it was just like a musical, only in Italian. I neglected, quite purposefully, to mention that Italian is very melodic and hypnotizing and often lulls most people to sleep! Bregon was already exhausted from a very long day on the fencing strip as he had spent the better part of the day at the National Qualifiers. He did manage to get decent for us and even decided to smell pretty for us, something for which I was very grateful! We got downtown with time to spare and even managed to get permission to park in the handicapped spot in the supposedly reserved parking for the chorus members (we had a parking pass) which had filled up early on with Cinco de Mayo celebration-goers. Bregon and I made our way down to the front of the theater, making certain to mark and remember the location and way down to the backstage door for afterward. As we were standing in the will-call line to get our tickets, we started running into people we know. Even Bregon had friends attending the Opera, how ironic is that? We mingled a bit, then made our way down to our seats. I pointed out the new director to Bregon, too. Eventually, my in-laws made it in, but sadly they were seated on the opposite side of the house as we were. I sent Bregon over to say hello and to check in and make arrangements for meeting afterwards. I made Bregon read through the program and check out the synopsis of the show before the curtain went up. He was very impressed that it was to be subtitled. I was very amused because in the old days (yes I am quite aware of how silly this must sound) we didn't get subtitles and were left to figure out what was being said all on our own! The show started and Bregon started to yawn. Not even the fight with his Daddy could keep him awake, poor dear! It wasn't that he didn't like it, as it turns out. It was that sheer exhaustion took over. By the end of the show he was bent over with his head in his lap. I actually managed to miss most of Act 4 (the death scene) because I spent it trying to keep him awake and upright! He finally believed me when the house lights came up after curtain call and woke fully up. He did manage to make it most of the way through though before actually passing out! I sent him home with his Grandparents and headed towards the door where I ran into several friends of mine who were basically going my way! One was the Mother of another chorus member, oddly enough! She wanted to hug her son before she left, so she joined us in our trek to crash backstage! We braved the hill and managed to make our way backstage, taking the long way round due to the tech crew striking set the moment curtain was over. On our way, I stopped to say hi to the director at his impromptu tail gate party out back, then headed inside to husband and to say hi to our friends. Afterwards, we all headed to the After-party at El Dorado. As it turns out, it's customary for the guild to want to have breakfast and mingle with the cast after the Opera. This meant that I got to play with the cast, too and make a lot of new friends and mingle with my usual ones too! All in all the show was fabulous, and we made a lot of new friends. I can't wait until the Director gets back into town so that we can start working on the next show with them!