Shepherd of my soul,
I give you full control,
Wherever you may lead,
I will follow...
I have made a choice,
To listen to your voice,
Wherever you may lead,
I will go..
This is part of the song I like. It is written from Psalms 23.
Sitting in front of computer, reading my own blog, and trying to think of things to write about, but I just can't. Writing is not an easy stuff. Hmmm... I still could not think of things to write about. OK, well, let's start by asking question....
A: "What do you want to write into your blog?"
B: "Well, I don't know."
A: "Hmmm, what question should be asked next?"
B: "I don't know."
A: "Why don't you think before you answer, "I don't know!"?"
B: "Because, I don't know!"
A: "Hmmm, I don't know either...."
Steinbach Arts Council (SAC) oversees 60 programs in dance, theatre, music, language and visual arts. SAC is recognized as on of the finest Arts Councils and Cultural Arts Centres in western Canada, recently the winner of the Above & Beyond Award! So tonight they held the operata called The Grand Duke or The Statutory Duel which is presented in part by Herbsigwil Farm. The story begins....
Act I: The curtain rises on the market square of Speisesaal where Ernest Dummkopf's acting troupe is rehearsing for a production of the Greek tragedy Troilus and Cressida. Beneath the theatrical veneer, a conspiracy is afoot among the thespians to overthrow Rudolph, the Grand Duke. Ludwig, the Company comedian, who is engaged to Lisa, the Company soubrette, admonishes everyone that it is forbidden to allude to the conspiracy without first exchanging the secret sign.
Ludwig, meanwhile, inadvertently betrays the conspiracy. A plan is concieved whereby Ludwig and Ernest will fight a statutory duel and the winner will denouce the loser to the Grand Duke. They draw cards and as Ludwig wins, he goes off to tell the Grand Duke of the conspiracy.
Anware of the intrigue surrounding him, Grand Duke Rudolph prepares for his wedding to the Baroness von Krakenfeldt. The Baroness reveals that Rudolph was bethrothed in fancy to the Pricess of Monte Carlo, which poses a problem for both couples. In the meantime, Ludwig approaches the Grank Duke in order too reveal the plot and finds him greatly agitated. Ludwig hatches a plan by which a statutory duel will be rigged and Rudolph will lose. Ludwig becomes the new Grank Duke. However, Julia, the prominent "English" actress of the troupe, points out that according to her contract she is repuired to play the part of the Grand Duchess. Lisa is disconsolate, but she show must go on and Ludwig is carried around the stage triumphantly.
Act II: As the curtain rises on Act II, Ludwig gloriously presents his plan to manage the Grand Duchy. The Baroness arrives, announcing that Ludwig is required to assume all of the late Duke's responsibilities, including the Baroness herslf, and everyone goes off to celebrate the wedding of Ludwig and the Baroness.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Monte Carlo arrive on the scene. The princess, finding that Ludwig has taken over all of the extinct Grank Duke's responsibilities, happil asserts a prior claim to marriage over the other Grand Duchesses. The company prepares for yet another wedding! At this moment Rudolph and Ernest appear, denouncing Ludwig as an imposer. A legal eversight is revealed and all is happile resolved... Happy Ending
And here are the songs...
Act I: Public Square of Speisesall - 1850
1. "Won't it be a pretty wedding?"
2. "By the mystic regulation"
3. "Were I a king in very truth"
4. " How would I play this part?"
5. "My goodness me! What shall I do?"
6. "About a century since"
7. "Strange the views some people hold"
8. "Now take a card, and gaily sing"
9. "The good Grand Duke..."
10. "As o'er our penny roll we sing"
11. "When you find you're a broken-down critter"
12. Finale- "Come hither all you people"
Act II: The Grand Ducal Palace
13. "As before you we defile"
14. "At the outset I may mention"
15. "Take care of him"
16. "Now Julia, come, consider it from this dainty point of view"
17. "Your Highness, there's a party at the door"
18. "So ends my dream"
19. "If the light of love's lingering ember"
20. "Come, bumpers - aye, ever so many"
21. "Why, who is this approaching?"
22. "The Prince of Monte Carlo"
23. "His Highness we know not"
24. "We're rigged out in manificent array"
25. "Well you're a pretty kind of fellow"
26. Fanale - "Happy couples, lightly treading"
It was so nice to be in the cultural things.... Have fun
