[Trombone-l] Pit Stories

[Walter Barrett]

I recently played Verdi's Otello with a local opera company. The pit  
was REALLY tight, so I was relegated to sit on the steps leading from  
the house down into the pit. (Mandatory Trombone reference- I played  
mostly the cimbasso part, on bass trombone.) The production was  
modernized, think George Bush as Otello. Opening scene where Otello  
comes back from battle, he was in a flight suit, with a Mission  
Accomplished banner.

Anyway, near the end, Desdemona is doing a big scene about her  
troubles, whilst on the phone. She slams down the receiver and sails  
the phone across the stage, where it flew about 3 inches over my head  
and landed 10 feet out into the audience. Glad I wasn't sitting on the  
next step up. Next show, I made sure to keep my head down.



Walter Barrett

"Comedy is tragedy plus time."
     -Carol Burnett

Alto, tenor, bass trombones
Bass trumpet, euphonium, tuba
Yamaha Artist/Clinician
http://www.walterbarrett.com