The Thrills and Spills of Opera: Finale!

by Melissa in What's New

Now comes the hour of departing, glad were I be were it not true: Fondest regards I’ll be imparting, one final fervent fond adieu….

No, I’m not quitting the blog crew. I am, however, mourning the end of the WCYOW’s 2008 season.”Pandora’s Box” had a very good run, and I hope a lot of you got to see us. Of course, the fun wasn’t secluded to the stage, especially on closing night.

Closing night was not at all a sad affair. Costumeland, however, was not as filled with excitement. The girls’ dressing room conversation was now fueled by one question: “How are you going to spend the rest of your summer?” Some of the girls had detailed plans while others simply said “I’m just gonna veg out.” The guys gathered extra enthusiasm for the final show by singing Monty Python songs in their dressing room and playing playground games, despite the lack of space.  Amid all this, shouts of “It’s hailing! It’s hailing!” filled the corridor outside Costumeland, and quickly the entry was crowded with Ancient Greeks hoping to catch a glimpse, or a few hailstones.

The performance was our best-attended show, despite having to delay opening for people caught in the hailstorm. I tell the truth when I say that everyone gave their best. Everyone got all their lines right and remembered all their dance steps. We did, however get to sneak in a little improvisation. There is a number called “The Show Must Go On”. Due to the “curse” and the impending Battle of Marathon, the Athenians decide to cancel a festival honoring Athena, their namesake. The drama group hired to perform at the festival are appalled and insist the festival continue, stating “We are not cancelling a show/ neither for rain, nor sleet, nor snow!” However, that night’s Thespis poked fun at the weather situation and sang hail instead of sleet. Well, I thought it was funny.

The night ended with a cast party, complete with pizza, cake, soda, thank-yous, good-byes, pictures, e-mailexchanges, score signings, and plans to sleep in the next day. Also, at an earlier rehearsal, Mr. Jacobsen gave out a quiz that asked students to match musical numbers from “Pandora’s Box” with the Jacques Offenbach opera they originally came from. Props and parts of the set were given away as prizes to student who returned their quizzes, with the student who got the most matches right being allowed to choose which prize they got. I didn’t win, but my name was drawn and I got a helmet and spear. 

Well, that concludes our show, and so before you go, we just want you to know we are so very glad you came. Friends, we are sincere. You’re always welcome here, so come again next year.. we’ll do the same!

See Ya. Mel