I have a new recurring nightmare . . .
I am at the opera house
Everyone is lavishly draped in 18th century attire
The multi-tiered set reminds me of one I saw for Carmen years ago
The chorus is singing and moving about the stage
I can see the indistinct forms of the audience beyond the brightness of the stage lights
It dawns on me that the time for me to sing my role is fast approaching
I don’t know this music
I’ve never seen the score
I run from the stage and try to locate a score
There are none in the wings
There are none in the green room
There are none in the basement
I run to the music store to buy one
I find one and take it back to the theater, but when I open it
It is filled with advertisements and I realize
I don’t know which role I am supposed to sing
I begin to look for the director so he can tell me which role to study
I search the wings, the green room, the basement, but I have no luck
My time comes and I stand before the audience mute
The stage manager emerges from the audience
She berates me for my irresponsible behavior
I am ashamed
When I finally speak to the director
He let’s me know that it is all right
He understands because “I’ve been sick”
He tells me the role I’m supposed to be singing
He can fill in for me
He has sung this role before
