A Great Big Pile of Musical Squee

LADIES!

I know you thought that the next time you would be hearing from me would be about my reading week but that's BORING! Been there, done that, etc. On the other hand...

I'M NERDING EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW because I just got back from the local symphony orchestra performing a full show of JOHN WILLIAMS!!

*pauses to collect the flying bits of nerd*

Let's rewind a bit for a minute here. Today I was working a shift 12-8 and the show was scheduled to start at 8 as per their usual schedule. I had already shaken little fists at myself inside my own head for not booking myself some time to get ready to go to the show but now I had prepared and brought a nice change of clothes to work, and driven there instead of walking like I usually do, so that I could leave right at the stroke of 8 to rush madly to the theatre and hope I wouldn't miss much.

It's 7:30 and I realize that the girl who's replacing me is going to be back from her break a little earlier than 8:00 so I make my suggestion (read: I beg a little bit) that I be let off slightly early so that I might make the show in time. She checks with the higher power and all is well. I'm off like a flash and into my fancy clothes.

I know by the time I've gone a few intersections that I'll still be late but my hope is still to get as much as possible so I speed my little car all the way down to the theatre. When I get there I think "Go for the cheaper parking across the street or go for the closer parking at the actual place? Hmmm... Gotta make it in time. I'll bite the bullet and pay a few extra bucks." I get there. The place is deserted except for the parking people who are all just kind of wandering around. One of them points to a spot and says "There's good." I'm like "Great!" cause it's the closest one. I backed my little bum in there, got my stuff together and headed towards the parking guy in the direction of the theatre. I ask "How much do I owe you?" because I've forgotten what it cost the last time I was there and he just waved me off and said "Don't worry about it."

FREE PARKING!!

I hurried into the theatre, right to the box office.

"Are you here to pick up a ticket?"
"Yes indeed."
"Last name?"
"Briant."
"Right here. Enjoy the show."
*BIG SMILE*

There were about 7 ushers at the place where you first show your ticket and only me there which made me laugh a little bit. Did I mention that since I've been in the theatre I've been able to here the orchestra playing the OLYMPIC FANFAIR AND THEME ?!? Talk about making an entrance! I'd been looking forward to hearing the piece and was sooo glad that I'd made it in time to catch a little bit of it even if I wasn't technically in the room yet. Once I got past the first set of ushers I found a whole bunch of other late people, particularly in line for the same section of the theatre as I was so I didn't feel so bad. When the first piece was finished we were all let in and then began ALL THE FEELS!!

Oh ladies... You have no idea how amazing this was. I was having moments from start to finish. I had to hold my own hand and wipe tears of joy and laughter from my eyes. When they played HEDWIG'S THEME (the featured instrument of which, I learned today, is called the celesta) I had to keep biting my lip to keep all the squeels of happiness inside. I was practically vibrating in my chair.

The first half of the concert finished off with some JAWS (during which one of the percussionists ran around the back with a blow up shark), E.T. , SUPERMAN and SCHINDLER'S LIST.

During the intermission I nerded out a bit with some of the band (there were so many of us that I really couldn't talk down the whole row at all of them so I settled for those closest to me). All were having a great time though none seemed quite as enthusiastic as me except for my good friend Emily and the player-of-every-intrument Craig. Many smiles and giggles were shared but it was only about to get better.

We were brought back with some JURASSIC PARK and then told that "the rest of the show will be Star Wars". I was like "HECK YESS!!!" cause I loves it and one of the topics for discussion during the intermission was how in the world they were going to cover Star Wars because there's just so darn much of it and it's all so good!

They started of course with the MAIN THEME from Star Wars but not before a bit of a fake out. The spoken introduction to the Star Wars pieces had ended with "If you had gone to the theatre to see the first Star Wars movie when it just came out, this would have been the first thing you heard..." They played the 20th Century Fox Fanfare first and then rolled straight into the Main Theme which then transitioned into DUEL OF THE FATES (with the vocals being played by the violins as far as I could tell and which myself and a few of the band boys nerded out over afterwards).

Then there was ANAKIN'S THEME which is both a beautiful piece of foreshadowing and the perfect lead in to the IMPERIAL MARCH. Now begins the real fun.

I forgot to mention earlier that when they announced that the rest of the program would be Star Wars they brought out a "special guest" who had appeared in every episode, R2-D2. The conductor asked him a few questions.

Conductor: "So what was it like working with John Williams?"
R2: whhhiiiiirl beep beep brrrrriiiiing tweeeet
Conductor: Yes, yes, I'd imagine so. A remarkable man. How do you think I compare?
R2: buuzzzzzzzzzz buzz buzzzzzz tweek zip
Conductor: Hmph! Well, I don't think we'll be having your back then but I have to know one thing before you go, was Natalie Portman just as gorgeous in person as she is on the screen?
R2: be de beep breeeeng whiiiiiiii*spins head all the way around*iiiirrrrrlll!
Conduction: *laughs* That's what I thought!
(Sidenote: I completely agree with R2's assessment of Natalie Portman :P)

Second bit of awesome (or third I suppose, if you're counting the inflatable shark which you should definitely be counting) was when, midway through the Imperial March, two Stormtroopers walked out and stood in front of the conductor and then Darth Vader came out, choked the conductor using the Force, and then conducted the rest of the piece himself! OMG IT WAS SOOO AWESOME!!!

*NERDS EVERYWHERE*

After that bit of EPICOSITY there was the FORCE THEME which made me go all *sigh*le feels* before the last piece THRONE ROOM/END TITLE which saw sooooo many other people in super awesome (read: the real deal) costumes of all sorts of characters inlcuding Luke (with his green lightsaber, AWESOME SAUCE) and Leia.

Of course there was something missing from this John Willaims program but not to fear, it came as the encore. Of course, I'm talking about THE RAIDERS MARCH (you're welcome ladies).

After the show, the guys with all the cool uniforms were outside and the band took some pictures which will appear on Facebook as soon as I am sent them, if not sooner (be excited!).

Oh lordy, look at the time! I have to open at work in the morning which means I'll be a zombie tomorrow... Oh well...

It was worth it.

<3 Dina