There is a certain state I try to get to before and during a performance. Class is done, my muscles warm, the make-up’s on. I’m calm, focused – ready. So also on Saturday.

Because of this balanced state of mind, the contrast behind stage appeared even bigger this premiere night. Apart from the normal sounds of the music, dancers walking around, scene-machinery working and so on, there was Eric, the choreographer, screaming words not usually used in the theatre loudly for long periods.

The reason was simple: The computer running the light-cues went down during the beginning of the show. This would normally be just a small bump in the road for a good light-technician, but not in our theatre. The changes in lights had to be done manually, and our light-guys just couldn’t seem to get that done in time, even though (or maybe just because of that) Eric was screaming through the intercom at them as if it was his last hour on earth. When the microphone used in one of our numbers turned out to malfunction, and the sound-system decided to pitch down the last numbers significantly all by itself, the catastrophe was complete.

Dance-wise the performance was nearly flawless from beginning to end. It saves the performance for the audience, but I still think the technical mistakes are unforgivable. I understand you cannot blame the tech’s for the equipment failing, but it is their responsibility that it should be checked well enough in advance. And when the failure was a fact, they were completely unable to do something about it. In my opinion, that is too bad. If the dancer falls on stage, he stands up and tries to catch up where he left. I think the tech’s should be able to do the same!

Nevertheless, the performance was a success. The audience liked it, and I guess that is the point after all. Still it is annoying to have important parts of the show failing after all that energy and time we put in it…

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