July 3rd, 2010: Part One

I'm going to break this post into two parts, because the tone shifts dramatically about halfway through.

Saturday!  Friday was opening day, but today is the day we should see our first big crowds -  the weekend is upon us.   There is a lot going on in the park today.  Multiple events are being staged.

There are rows of motorbikes on either side of this sidewalk for as far as you can see.  Too many to count, and once again a picture simply doesn't do it justice.

The entrance to the tent, where nearly 2,000 people will line up to fill our first show.  We have some VIPs in the front row:  the Suharto family.  General Suharto was Indonesia's second president and ruled the country for 32 years.  While Suharto died in 2008, his family is still probably the most wealthy, prominent and powerful in Indonesia.

Backstage
Weego getting ready for the show surrounded by his custom designed costumes and assorted props.

Some of the dancers getting their game face on.  From left: Sam, Lara and Bianca.  In the far left mirror that might be a partial reflection of Laura.

Andrei (German Wheel) and Mario (Mime) are about to do makeup.  Beyond Andrei is the secret cave where the Garzas paint themselves silver.

Showtime
We have a packed house, with nearly 2,000 people on the risers.  The generators are finally cooperating and the air conditioning is on full blast.  After countless hours of tweaking, Mia and Ferry have finally gotten the lighting plots just right.

The show is firing on all cylinders.  The first day there were a few minor blips - but today every performer is right on the mark.  The audience is delighted.  For the trapeze act, Jeff and I and several of the local crew have to physically pull up Ivan and Carly (iCarly?) with a rope and then bring Ivan back down at the end.  The first couple of times were a little rough due to communication issues and general confusion.  Today we finally got it perfect.  The sound engineer has hit every cue.  The follow spots have found their groove.

Audience, cast, crew . . . everyone was in a terrific mood because we were putting on a hell of a show.  The Garzas are the anchoring act of the show (the last act before the grand finale where the entire cast comes out for their bows in a choreographed dance number).  They are a family act that does a truly impressive "living statue" hand-to-hand performance painted head to toe in silver.  The father, Everardo Sr. is a quiet slab of a man with an enormous upper body, and he works with his son and daughter Elizabeth.  The Garzas completed their act to thunderous applause and cheers from the house.

As the full cast launched into the finale number and curtain call, it began to rain outside.  Hard.

Stay tuned for Part Two.