Lights…camera…action!
The orchestra starts it’s masterpiece with a gentle crescendo as the curtain slowly opens. It’s the morning sunrise quietly ascending up from the horizon bringing hues of slate, purple, pink and orange, followed seamlessly by a brilliantly golden chorus, bursting to sopranic heights. It’s the Morning Aria and it’s coming to a theatre near you. Yes, every day, free admission and open to all!
One of my favorite 80’s songs by Thomas Dolby is “ She Blinded Me With Science”. That’s what nature does to me. She blinds me with her science and her beauty and her complexity. I realize that this production I’m enjoying is mainly explained by science, yes. Composed of a few basic chemical elements shared by all of life. A carefully orchestrated dance guided choreographed by invisible electromagnetic forces. “Fosse, Fosse, Fosse” This is the blinding-me-with-science part.
Yet, there is the mystical, spiritual connection I feel as I sit quietly absorbing this production. There exists an omnipresent, omniscient message bathing the performance. A spiritual connection just waiting to be tapped into and embraced. That’s the blinding-me-with-awe part that I crave.
There are so many unique characters in my Sonoran Desert Play. It’s a drama, a comedy, a ballet all in one. As the curtains part, I see a purple haze outlining the jagged, cascading mountain range brought on by the sun’s slow ascension from the East. Yes, a quiet peaceful symphonic opening. I notice the Saguaro Cacti planted steadfastly on stage like noble yet benevolent guards from a Roman play. Their strong arms outstretched wide, heralding shelter for those in need of a refuge from the intense Arizona sun. Suddenly the loud staccato shrill of the Gila Woodpecker is heard as she pops her head out of her saguaro hole. Just as the enigmatic little Flycatcher appears with his funky toupee, a beautiful White Tailed Dove lands atop the saguaro, blue eye shadow and all!( Binoculars not included in the price of admission.)
Oh my gosh, a guest appearance from the primo ballerina…the Mockingbird flits to center stage, break dancing and singing an amazing compilation of oldies but goodies. Yes, copyright infringement for sure but a cover band like no other. They all sing their avian encoded musical as they swoop from black barked Mesquite to effervescently green Palo Verde. The backdrop changes hourly as dazzling sunlight changes to massive monsoon clouds engulfing the mountain range below. I have to hand it to whomever is doing set design. Give her an Emmy! And just as you are entranced by this Cirque Du Soleil, the comic relief arrives. A covey of drunken Quail, party hats and all, come stumbling across stage, as if late for something but have forgotten what it was. “ Toga, Toga, Toga” You got it…Animal House The Play.
Soon the lights begin to dim. The mood changes suddenly as you sense impending doom. The antagonist enters stage right. Yes, it’s suddenly Phantom of The Opera as the majestic Owl swoops in. “DaDaDaDaaaa…DaDaDaDaaaa”. So feared and misunderstood. If you stay long enough you may be able to see West Side Story as a scrawny, sly, desperate gang of coyotes howl their way across the set in search of helpless victims. And let’s give a big shout out to our extras…the fat little Barrel Cacti and the brave little Lizards scurrying from rock to rock.
And as the encore of a trillion twinkling Stars unfolds, you realize you’ve just been privy to a masterpiece. Mesmerized by an artful hypnotist. “ You are getting very sleepy…happy…fulfilled…grounded.” I suddenly realize that I am part of this play! Am I a lead, a fill in, a supporting actor, a producer? Not sure where I fit into this Divine Creation, but I feel connected and somehow essential.
This play called Nature is unfolding in a playhouse near you, everyday. Granted there may be different backdrops, players and plots. Yours may be an ocean wave, a tree, a canyon wall. Or perhaps it’s an urban rooftop, a local park, or your front porch. If we want to support the Arts…here’s our chance!
We can’t let the longest running act die. The show must go on!