On Wings Of Song

Lizzie’s daughter is getting firstnight nerves.

REHEARSALS for the school production of “The Pirates Of Penzance” had been going on for months in Kildartie High School.

They had been suspended for the duration of the Highers, and restarted as soon as the exams had finished. So much work had been done already that it was more a question of refreshing everyone’s memory rather than learning anything new.

Just the same, there was an air of panic as the performance drew nearer.

“I’ve forgotten everything!” Hannah announced one teatime. “I went in clean the wrong direction on the stage this afternoon. What if I do that on opening night?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” Lizzie said soothingly. “Someone’s bound to make a mistake now and again, but you’ll all get everything right on the night. You’ll see.”

“I sure hope so.” Hannah accepted a small portion of pie, unable to contemplate a larger slice, even though her mother was famed for her pastry.

“We’ll all be there to support you,” David said by way of encouragement.

“I don’t find that in the least consoling,” his daughter said.

“We’ll try not to laugh if you get it wrong,” Adam said gleefully. Hannah glared at him. “You know you’ve done the work,” Lizzie said firmly, “so stop worrying and enjoy it. Even if someone does make a mistake, it won’t be the end of the world. I bet it happens all the time, even on the professional stage.” “Really?”

“Sure. The trick is to cover it up so that the audience doesn’t notice. But it’s not going to happen, Hannah. Now, eat up your pie and you can have some fruit and ice-cream. Rum and raisin! I bought it in the new delicatessen.”

Though she spent much of her time keeping her daughter in a calm frame of mind, Lizzie herself was almost as nervous.

She had plenty of experience of worrying about anything she might be performing herself, but nothing had prepared her for how anxious she would get about Hannah.

By the time the first night came round she was exhausted, while trying at all times to be bright and positive.

Hannah had got them seats in prime position in the school hall. There was a tremendous buzz of excitement all around, and from snatches of conversation Lizzie realised that she didn’t actually know much about the operetta.

She knew the words had been changed to include lots of local references, but apart from that, it was all a bit of a mystery to her.

From the very beginning, the audience were transported to a land of music, colour and fun. The Pirate King strutted about, filling his lungs and letting fly just as he had seen Jed Ferguson do.

His men also sang with gusto, and the chorus of girls sparkled and danced around the stage.

“I don’t see Hannah,” David whispered to Lizzie, after things had been going for quite some time. “Is she one of the girls?”

Lizzie shook her head. “I don’t think so. She’s the solo. I just don’t know when she comes in.”

No sooner had she said it than the lead soprano made her entrance with a high F and a series of cascading notes that left everyone spellbound.

“Wow,” Adam said. David was too surprised and Lizzie too choked to say anything. It was Hannah, her daughter, and Lizzie was overcome with pride.

There were one or two mistakes, of course there were, but not from Hannah. The Sergeant of Police did accidentally march off the stage, fall down two steps, and reappear seconds later to a round of applause and kindly laughter.

The local references, including the gift shop and the new deli, made everything even funnier than Gilbert and Sullivan had intended. Altogether, it was a splendid production, and as conductor and musical director, Rodney Taylor did brilliantly.

As the applause died down at the end of the evening, the headmaster made a short speech.

He mentioned those in the cast who were about to leave the school, and wished them every success in their chosen careers.

That was when it struck Lizzie that this was not only Hannah’s biggest musical success, it was also her swan song. By the end of the summer, Hannah would be starting university.

Her little girl was suddenly all grown up and ready to fly the nest.

More next week.