Hello folks! After many, many hours of rehearsals, music coaching, prop making, dance classes, meetings, set turnarounds, wig preparation, costume making etc it finally arrived; Opening Night. From quite early in the evening you could see ladies and gentlemen in their gowns, tuxedos and long coats going to preshow dinner’s, striding the cobble-lock streets and steadily making their way to the Opera House for the Ghosts of Versailles. Unfortunately, the rain didn’t stay away but the misty atmosphere only added to the magic. The limousines and high end cars all queuing up outside to deposit another impeccably turned out opening nighter with their drivers jumping out, umbrellas aloft, to save the occupier from the rain. There was also the slightly more eclectic styling of a few attendees, but its opera not ‘Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix’; you have to love it for that! Inside, there was the click-clack sound on the wooden floors, exclaims of happiness when people met each other, the clink of glasses and the exuberant chatter all around. Along the quayside, fireworks shot through the skyline to celebrate another Festival, with the public cheering and clapping as they tumbled and flipped through the air, coming down with as much insistence as the previous showers.

Backstage, the final preparations were being made to the set, scenery and flying pieces securely tied off, assistant stage managers were checking and double checking everything was in the right place and that props were where they should be. The dancers had warmed up with the dance captain by now, artists were making their way to hair and make-up to get them transformed and the sound of scales and vocal exercises filled the dressing room corridor and spilled out onto the street. Regular announcements from the stage manager informed us of the countdown to show time; the half hour call, the fifteen minute call and so on. While at this point the dancers were already onstage doing a preshow act, as if they were a restoration firm brought in to bring the palace back to life. The green room was like Grand Central Station, more coffee was consumed than rush hour in an Italian Cafe and the tea ladies didn’t have a minute to think about tennis elbow, or indeed teapot elbow! Back out in Front of House, the Artistic Director, Company Management, Media Relations and Opera House HOD’s were busy greeting the public, dignitaries, invited guests and Friends of WFO, giving a warm welcome to damp hair do’s and glistening shoulders.

Closer to 8 o’clock, the bells rang out across the MacKenzie Room, the Festival Room, the Foundation Room and the main foyer to give a very clear message; take your seat! The dressing rooms became silent as the last announcement came through from the stage manager for Act 1 Beginners to come to the stage. The conductor was being escorted to the pit; LX crew, technical staff and stage managers were all on standby; artists were pacing the wings, then, rapturous applause filled the beautiful auditorium as the conductor appeared in front of his orchestra. On the green cue light, the first notes if the Irish National Anthem were heard and everyone was upstanding.

At the interval, the crowd billowed out of the auditorium and spilled in the reception rooms to have a drink and more importantly, to trade opinions with the other audience members. “I don’t know why I like it, but I like it all the same” was a comment from one lady. Another gentleman was overheard saying “Well it’s certainly very different, but I love it”. The reaction from people at the end was hugely positive, as was the public dress rehearsal 3 days previously. Personally, I loved it from start to finish. It’s intriguing, funny, sincere, well directed, slick, multi faceted, beautifully sung and excellently performed.
After the curtain came down, the audience descended upon a local gallery and bistro for the Opening Night party. The smiling faces and jubilant atmosphere was enough for anyone to know that the night had been a huge success. The Champagne flowed as the cast dribbled in from the quiet but rain sodden streets to be greeted by their public. They openly and gratefully accepted all the wonderful comments and compliments by the people who enjoyed their performances.
And now tonight, another premiere; the double bill of ‘Une Éducation Manquée’ and ‘La Cambiale di Matrimonio’. Let’s hope it’ll be another success and the best of luck to everyone involved.

TOI TOI!!

Justin