The Show Must Go On...
Many communities have community-based theater productions. Some may primarily produce plays, others opera, or “light opera,” musicals. Schenectady is no exception; they too, have SLOC. Schenectady Light Opera Company. SLOC has been a part of the fabric of the capital district communities for all the years I was growing up. I looked it up, they’ve been around since 1926—98 years. Okay, I’m not that old. Over the years I have been alive, I’ve been to some performances and hopefully I’ll get in a few more before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
This past weekend they had a very special performance called, ACT TWO. These were contemporaries of mine that are a bit long in the tooth to play sweet young things and randy young bucks. However, they still have some amazing pipes for belting out a tune, and they can act.
By now, dear readers, you are all well aware there is a huge creator like hole in our family where one tiny dynamo once resided. She/we had built quite a community of support over the years. That was never more apparent than when we were waiting for the seats to fill up. Right behind us some folks I haven’t seen in a long while took their seats. What happened next was not pretty. I burst into tears.
For the most part, the grief rollercoaster has stopped its wild gyrations and loop-dee-loops. But there sat two couples I have not seen since Sheila was around 5 years old. Folks we met through a Down syndrome support group. Their daughters are creeping up on middle age, like our daughter who left this plane six-months ago. But this afternoon she hovered close by.
A few minutes later I saw several people from our church come in and take seats. During the intermission I stood up and turned around to see a couple we know from the folk music organization that has provided us so much support over the years. Three of the cast members are people I have known from other singing organizations for years; one of whom, often sits next to me when I sing in the alto section of our church choir.
Here is community, so despite bursting into tears when I saw Rose, who offered sympathy and support for our loss, I was really happy to see her. I took comfort in watching and listening to these seasoned actors entertain an enthusiastic crowd. Furthermore, I hummed, I laughed, I marveled at how the years fell off each person onstage. They were convincing as the characters they were portraying in the moment.
Laughter. We all need laughter to get us through dark times, but Guys and Dolls in ten-minutes! OMG, the tears rolled down my face I was laughing so hard! I started the afternoon at SLOC in tears. I ended the afternoon in tears of a different sort. But it was all good.
I can’t wait to see what SLOC has in mind for their 100th year anniversary, but I sure hope they ask the performers for ACT TWO to be a part of it.