The young couple and I sat between the king and queen, and what a treat was in store. The afternoon’s concert began with an orchestral suite by one of their noted composers. Next to grace the stage was a ballet troupe. The ballet was a depiction of what Orfeo and Euridice had just been through. The orchestra opened in the minor key, giving an air of melancholy to the ballet. The dancers took their respective positions, and the drama began. The fairy king ostracized the young couple to the underworld, and what ensued was a constant battle between good and evil. The prima dansur and the prima ballerina were forever pulled apart, until the fairy godmother rushed onto the stage between the corps de ballet and the young couple and demanded the twain be one. The ballet concluded with a beautiful pas de deux between the young lovers, accompanied by celestial music of the most heavenly in celebration of good over evil and the consummation of their love.
Next up was a choral group that sang an anthem in celebration of our safe return, followed by two more lengthy numbers. Then came an act by three snakes, slithering and turning around one another and chasing each other around the stage, bringing forth howls from everyone. Next was the children’s choir. Their choir mistress was a very celebrated modern composer of children’s music, and the singers performed ancient chants as well as two more modern compositions. This brought down the house. This was followed by individual dances by members of the corps de ballet. The afternoon continued with various solos and quartets singing popular genre. The proceedings ended with the entire cast on stage singing a medley of numbers. When this was accomplished, everyone retired to the next room where a scrumptious bridal feast awaited.
When this was consumed, the king and queen led the entire company outside. The king raised his arms and shouted, “Tatzelwurm, come thither.”
In a few minutes, Tatzelwurm the flying dragon could be seen soaring towards his audience. He made two rotations of the palace and landed. The head priest and priestess grabbed the young couple and walked them to their bridal carriage, blessed them and said, “Off to your Shangri-La and enjoy your honeymoon.”
As they took off into the great blue yonder, they passed their guardian angel who shouted, “Enjoy.”
At this display of euphoria, I awoke, to my chagrin, to find it had all been a dream of such magnificence. I lay on my back paralysed by the experience. Searching for some semblance of reality, I reached out my hand to feel if my sweetheart was still beside me. When I regained my equilibrium, I shook my Rosalyne and shouted, “Wake up, wake up!”
Rosalyne stirred and mumbled, “What in the name of heavens?”
“I had the most fantastic dream.”
“I’m all ears.”
We gathered up all our belongings and my sweetheart grabbed me by the arm, kissed me and said, “Walk me home my Scheherazade, and tell me all about the dream.”
