success and its discontents

The final performance of "Oedipus at Colonus" took place yesterday. We were able to do it in the outdoor theater; the threatened massive rain storms skipped the Hudson Valley, and while it was chilly and overcast, there was still a huge crowd. It was a huge success. The audience seemed mesmerized. Either that or they were drugged, because I know that I froze my tail off sitting there, constantly retuning my drum as the cold temperatures kept dragging the pitch down. Maybe the mass of them created some kind of crowd warmth that kept them from freezing. I was excited and exhausted when it was over. But there was one downside; because of the weather and some mixed-up plans, none of my friends were able to come up from NYC. I thought I didn't care, but afterward, alone on the train heading back to Grand Central, I crashed. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I had no one to share the excitement with once I left Vassar. When I got home I felt lousy. I can't describe it. Some hollowness, and also the sadness that this project, which I've been involved in for the past year-and-a-half, is over.

But the actors were magnificent. The chorus sang their songs with drive and power. The tempos were right. My drum sounded great. The set was awesome, beautiful, powerful. I have some pictures that I will post later.