“So you’ve seen the John Legend one,” Dania began, as they walked away from the imposing facade of the Civic Opera House.
“Yes, the live one NBC just did,” Eleanor said. “Which the Jesus in this version was apparently in, but I wouldn’t recognize anyone.”
“Well, duh,” Dania said. “On TV there’s a million people in the ensemble, and at an opera house he’s about a million miles from your seat. I could barely make out which apostles were which.”
“Intermission!” cried the emcee, the first English she had spoken during her appearances between the pieces so far. As she and her English translating counterpart shuffled off the stage, the lights rose in the theatre.
Gwen, for her part, immediately grabbed her program, pulling it open to the lyrics of the song that had closed out the act. Performed by a tenor who strained for his highest notes, the song “Heaven Awaits” was a bel canto aria composed by the production’s artistic director, D.F.
“What do you think D.F. stands for?” Dania said, pointing to the leader’s name in the program. His headshot, adorning the title page, obscured his eyes behind dark, tinted glasses.
“Falun Dafa?” Eleanor suggested. “Maybe it’s a fake name.”
“Why did you buy a ukulele if you couldn’t play it?”
“I’ve always wanted to learn,” Gwen admitted, shifting to the much easier C chord. “It was only $20, it was on sale. It’s not the world’s best ukulele ––”
She shifted into F, followed by A-minor, but the latter chord had a rogue note stuck into it. Gwen held out the uke to observe her fingers.
“I see that” Eleanor commented.
“That was me,” Gwen said, referring to the note. “Maybe if I can curve my thumb around under the neck…”
“Because everything’s political nowadays, you know? Like, everyone. You gotta have your answers about where you stand on every issue just, at the ready. So I’d want to know.”
Dania stirred her tea slowly, considering Eleanor’s answer. “But why her?”
“Why not her?”
“I’m not saying she wouldn’t have an answer,” Dania continued, guardedly. “But of all the people to ask, it seems an odd choice.”
The Hanslick Girls 