Opening Night!

What is it about Opening Night?  True, we're just going out there and doing the same thing we've done repeatedly in rehearsal, but the night has a feeling of experimentation, is fraught with emotion, and is heavy with the knowledge that we don't know how this will play before a live audience.  And then it turns out that your effort and tears and emotions-laid-bare, and singing and acting and dancing and comedic timing and the sets and the costumes and the music and stage magic - are enough, and even more than enough, to capture 400 in your world for a couple of hours on a Friday night.  I think I'm safe in saying that it is not possible to get much higher than on Opening Night.  Not in this life, anyway.

It was interesting to the me that the audience found humor in places I did not necessarily notice.  Generally speaking, I try to notice humor that is overlooked.  It fuels my writing, and my life.  Here are a couple of unexpected laughs, each one of which caused me to laugh along in surprise.  This is not an exhaustive list.  I lurk backstage as much as possible, but not all the time.  I am also engaged in mining non-existent humor in other places.

Fairy Godmother1 to Cindy1:  Stand back.  This could be dangerous (when about to supersize the pumpkin)

FG1 to Cindy1:  Well don't go kicking any rocks or anything (with your glass slippers)

FG1 to Cindy1:  This is no joke! (after summarizing the reverse transformations to take place at midnight)

Cindy1 to Prince1:    You might be surprised. (answering the question about the harm of leaving a few minutes past midnight)

Prince1 to Cindy1:    I tell you I love you and you don't say anything (about Cindy1 not replying to Prince1's assertion of love)

Herald1 to Step Sister1:  Space is limited. (regarding ballroom capacity while considering SS1's ample body)

And a word about happily-ever-after.  Did you notice the looming issues between Cindy1 and Prince1?  For instance, did you notice that she never tells him her name?  Do you know where Prince1 hears her name?  Step Mother1 blurts it out in the 11th hour before the last fitting of that size 11 glass slipper (sorry Cindy1, I couldn't resist).  So Prince1 hears Cindy1's name from his future Step-Mother-In-Law.  That's right Prince1.  You'll be related!  Maybe you'll put her and her and Step Sister1 and Step Sister2 (your future Step-Sisters-In-Law) up in a nice suite in the castle, so you'll be under the same roof! 

Ah, wedded bliss.  Enjoy your Champagne, Prince1.