Our Musical

It’s 12.40 am as i write this post, my first in four months, and Let It Be, the Cedar musical version, is still sounding in my head as it first did when i woke up this morning.

i must admit i am somewhat surprised at the way i’m feeling.

The entire process of the musical ended on 22 November 2008, which makes it exactly a year since the idea of a public performance, combining the talents of the performing arts CCAs, was first mooted among the various teachers heading the CCAs.

And, to be honest, up till the day of the performance, i thought i would only feel a deep sense of relief and release, having been ambivalent about taking on the onerous task of directing a “history-making” school musical while also juggling the considerable and alien demands of fatherhood.

As it turned out, the musical went swimmingly well and, with the benefit of hindsight, i see my Father’s hand in extruding me into the position of the director.

Few will know that prior to being posted to Cedar Girls’ and still in the throes of trainee teacherhood, i made a few requests of God which i hoped would be fulfilled if they were within His will. One of these was the opportunity to create and direct a public performance which communicated a positive message of some sort.

It’s amazing how our Father remembers such prayers and brings things to pass even when i had cast aside all hope of ever being able to participate in any sort of public performance. How He has worked is even more wondrous considering that Cedar has a strong tradition in athletics and sports and uniformed groups. In my perspective at least, this is strong evidence of His involvement. It’s a pattern that’s oft repeated in the Scriptures.

Returning to the raison d’etre of this post though, i never thought that i’d be suffering from post-production funk/melancholy syndrome, PPFS or PPMS if you will.

But i cannot help feeling this way.

Not after enjoying such a wonderful sense of camaraderie with my colleagues and fellow production members. i marvel at the team spirit that existed within the production team and how we were all willing to sacrifice personal grouses and particularities for the sake of others. When people work together in meekness and humility, anything is possible.

It’s incredible to encounter such a wondrously talented group of students who matched their talent with effort and a persevering spirit that is the hallmark of every true Cedarian. To the musicians, the choir, the soloists, the stage/sound/lighting crew, you were all superb, surpassing every expectation and you all deserve the adulation and praise that has been showered upon you.

To the soloists with whom i worked closely, i am utterly thankful for having had the experience of working with all of you.  You all gave your very best and that’s all i or anyone can ever ask of you. That you could do so is a sign of your maturity and sterling character and i am honoured and privileged to have been your director.

My only regret is that we, the production team, should have scheduled at least two more performances so as to give proper and sufficient exposure to the talent and effort that has marked the production. Well, if things go well, i think a reunion performance sometime in mid-February is in the pipeline, which would be fantastic actually.

So, after the final line’s been spoken, the final lyric sung, what will we make of all this, when it’s all said and done?

My heart rejoices at the sharing of lives that has taken place in the course of the production. It will remain ever etched in the halls of our memory, pressed deep into the soft tissue of our souls.

But there will never be a time again when all of us, each individual and unique person, we shall never together share our lives with each other as deeply as we have done. We will never work again in one heart, one soul, one mind towards a single glorious ambition.

The best we can do is remember well the time we once did.

May we then seek to share of ourselves thus deeply with others with whom our paths, in future, will cross.

Let it be, Father.

Let it be.