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It was one of those fantastic clear, crisp pre-winter days that
saw me taking a group of young men from Eaglesons Group Home to see the opera, Don Giovanni at
the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. I had brought them to see Ray, The Musical at the
Pasadena Playhouse the previous month – and after spending a most enjoyable evening getting to
know them, I knew I wanted them to see this production.
This would be their very first opera – and being young men on the precipice of manhood, Don
Giovanni’s story is perfect. You are probably familiar with the story of the famous Don, the
original player if ever there was one. Disguises, deceptions and damnation; Mozart’s great comic
drama that tells the tale of Don’s conquests and the trouble he gets into that eventually leads
to his ruin. This particular production is unique in its interpretation. The sparse stage, the
creatively colorful costumes, everything is heightened with of course the wonderful music of
Mozart as background. At first I was a little worried that the boys would end up hating me for
making them sit through a three hour opera. I could not have been more mistaken. They loved it. I
laughed as I heard them commenting with things like “Man did you see what he just did?” “Well she
is annoying him that is why she ain’t getting him back”, “Dude the man is wearing pink and he is
still cool”. During the intermission we went into the lobby where we continued discussing the
moral compass of this complicated character. You want to dislike Don Giovanni, but he is so
charming and well, gorgeous that you find yourself forgiving his many faults!
I had seen the show earlier in the week. Erwin Schrott, who plays Don, was really excited that I
was bringing these kids to see the show, so he arranged to have them come backstage. He also
wanted to give them something which I thought was extremely touching. As soon as the curtain went
down on the final encore, I gathered my troops and we headed backstage. Erwin gave the boys LA
Opera hats – and he posed with them for a few pictures. I know how busy Erwin was, so that he was
gracious enough to take the time to meet them despite his obligations was very special. One very
important thing I have learned through volunteering for ROY is that these children want you to
just take a moment of your time to care. For anyone who has been blessed to meet Erwin, you know
how beautifully charismatic he is. His love of performing shines through and it is totally
infectious. He walks into a room and that room changes. You find yourself wanting to spend more
time with him. Well today I not only watched him change the room, but I watched him change the
lives of four impressionable young men – men who would take the lessons of Don Giovanni to heart.
They would view how they treat women in a totally different light.
As I walked them back across the street to the county parking lot, I smiled to myself as they
talked more about how cool Erwin had been. We talked about the graveyard scene (one of my
favorites) when grey clad dancers slowly make their way across the stage. I always thought of
them as souls – but the guys said they were statues come to life with souls. They loved the show
so much that they even kept their programs (I am thinking they want to replicate that very cool
pink jacket - never has pink looked so hot!) Wini had arranged for the boys to meet John Hill,
Chief of Staff for County Supervisor Yvonne Burke. We learned that he spent some time in the
foster care system, working his way through it and succeeding in his chosen career. He gave the
boys more good advice: “Be a gentleman, boys. “
After seeing them off, I headed back to my car in the music center parking lot. I sat there for a
while soaking in the day. I wish I could bottle up the feeling I had and save it for those days
when things maybe are a bit dark and I need a little sunshine. The smiles on their faces, the way
they carried themselves, the thankfulness of being in the orchestra section, all of it so
priceless.
This day could not have been possible without the help of some very special people. So a major
thank you to: Stacy C. Brightman, Wini Jackson, Scott Pollack (you rock!!), John Hill, Clarence
Brown and my boys, and most of all to Erwin Schrott for taking the time. And by the way Erwin
that was the best “toe-stepping, tango dancing session” I have had in a while ;)!!
Rebecca Kirkland
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