ROY GOES TO THE OPERA
DISCLAIMER: ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE ARE PROPERTY OF REBECCA KIRKLAND.
Don Giovanni, Music Center,Los Angeles,12/12/07
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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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| The poster for Don Giovanni at the LA Opera. | From Rebecca Kirkland:"Wini Jackson(right) and I waiting on our boys to arrive for the Don Giovanni opera." | Rebecca:"My lovely Eaglesons boys meeting the amazing Erwin Schrott (Don Giovanni) at the opera 12/12/07." |
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