Opening Day Massacre

Before I get into the subject line, it's been a long couple of days coming into the opening performance. I've been limited access to the internet (my GOD, WHAT will I do?), and found better things to do with my time.

The flight back to Florida was memorable. It was the first time I sat in seat "E"... for those of you who don't travel often, there's an "F" and a "D" between those letters. In-flight awkward sandwich. It wasn't as bad as the airport though -- Miami International was much left to be desired.

I've been staying at Dave Torres house, of course, against my will. But, it's been pretty satisfactory to my standards (surprisingly!). His parents are legit -- his dad marched drum corps back in the 70's, so at least we had a connection. His mother was from the Bronx, so at least I had stories to tell... all 3 years of my existence in New York.

On Monday, Dave toured me around South Florida (no Universities in sight, sorry.... Go Bulls). We went to the Everglades and saw Peafowl. It was the highlight of the trip. I initially tried to court one, but it kept leaving for some reason. Went to downtown Ft. Lauderdale, Las Olas, back up to the Sawgrass Mall, and then out to Hard Rock Hollywood for the night where I lost $40 on the penny slots. Their low-limit tables were $15 minimum at the blackjack and hold-em, so forget that. I have faster, any more entertaining ways, to lose my money.

TUESDAY TUESDAY TUESDAY. YES, this day will go down in history. It all started off 40 minutes into the trip when Dave started shouting expletives from the back... and took about 55 seconds too long to tell us

"I forgot my music"

AHHHPFFFT. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls (for you kids reading), that's our STOCK DAVID TORRES. We were already late as it is because someone had to stop for a Powerbar™. Got to the theater around 10 after 12, no worries. Kravis is stunningly gi-huge-ic inside. Very impressive venue. As we were covering our grounds, our music director greeted us with this story:

"You guys heard about the hamper? (hamper is a giant basket that theaters use to transport large things in large quantities) Well, the reed and brass mute hamper was loaded, and went with the hampers to New York. They tracked them down in Pennsylvania, stopped them, and re-routed them and are shipping them freight to Memphis, back to WPB, and they should be here shortly"

........

Wow. Epic madness. So, we wait for the next, I don't know, 10 minutes? He calls us back on stage

"Jason, Jason, and Mike, I need to see you on stage right now"

I had a feeling our instruments were here... or something catastrophic happened. Namely the latter. Turns out the plane with our hamper was grounded in Memphis due to thunderstorms, and we had 6 hours to find 2 flutes, 3 clarinets, 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, a soprano sax, a bass clarinet, and a bari sax. Hello, company credit card.

Thus, the "Drowsy Chaperone Freak-out we need instruments STAT tour '09" has begun. We initially hit music stores in WPB, but to no avail. We tried down in Ft. Lauderdale, but nothing to write home about (see?). Let me tell you, it's quite difficult to find instrumentation like this, all at once, at the same store. Finally, Sukh remembered "ohsha, INGRID!". His former band director, who is now at Coral Glades HS, was willing to lend us all 12 of the instruments, for a nominal fee of course. Show must go on!

We drove down to Coral Glades, saw Ingrid, hugs ensued, stories told, and instruments apprehended. Then to Sam Ash where we spent... oh... close to... a lot... on reeds, mouthpieces, ligatures, mutes, the whole kit and kaboodle. Sans kit.

Being the reed players, we had no opportunity to try any of the equipment out because we we're on time crunch lunch. This whole debacle took 4.5 hours by itself, and we hadn't stopped once. We got back to the theater, set it up, and let the beautiful music of high school instruments fill the air. Of pollution.

IT ALL HAPPENED AT ONCE... disgustingly crazy! Dave's music, the hamper mishap, the grounding of the flight, the props fell during rehearsal, finding instruments, renting instruments, touring the greater Ft. Lauderdale area for any sign of life, oh, and did I mention

...the music was in that hamper too? I'm sure I didn't cover all of the bases.

The staff was pasting together music from the 4 corners of the world. Needless to say, we had a scotch-tape fest going on once we got back.

All in all, we prevailed... by the skin of our teeth. Capped it off with opening night party full of delicious delacies, endless conversations, the cha cha slide, the cupid shuffle, and some generous words by company members. Fun times had by all.

Torres has begun to yell at me, which is the cue for me to stop. Hope everyone has had a great start of the week so far... because I haven't! ;)