News & Events

by Regina O’Neill
Hawaii Opera Theatre

I have a ticket to opening night of The Barber of Seville at the Blaisdell Concert Hall this weekend.  It will be my first opera. When I got the ticket as a “special gift” from a friend (who decided to include me in her New Year’s Resolution to ‘do more fun things’), I have to admit, I was at a loss for words.

Once my face relaxed following the initial shock over the very thought of attending live opera, my left-brain-thinking kicked into full gear. Why not? I mused, trying to ignore the little devil sitting on my right shoulder...nothing wrong with ‘doing more fun things’ I convinced myself.

But it wasn’t until I googled Hawaii Opera Theatre and hit “I’m feeling lucky” did everything change.

Colorful sets and beautiful costumes jumped out at me from the webpage. In just a few mouse clicks, I was suddenly at-ease knowing that translations would appear above the stage so I could follow the singer’s words and plot line in English just like subtitles below the movie screen in the foreign films I have come to enjoy.

The stories about teenagers and even elementary school children enjoying opera were heartwarming.The notion of attending an opera now seemed rather ‘grand’ actually. While I do have a better idea of what to expect on our night with the The Barber of Seville (and I am secretly grateful it is a comedy!), I can’t help but wonder if the other people at the opera might be able to ‘tell’ it’s my first time.Then again, there will probably be lots of other first-timers too, who just might be looking forward to helping a friend keep her New Year’s Resolution.