A Night at the Opera

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA....

Carmen; Tacoma, WA

Onalaska Middle School: 7th & 8th Graders

Transportation: BUS

Chaperone: Mom

The bus ride:

Dinner at the Panda Express:


In our seats, waiting for the production:


Scene 1, the Cigarette girls. The gypsy, Carmen, is interested in the soldier who shows no interest in her because he's in love with a country girl.

Scene 1: There is a fight in the cigarette factory. The soldier has to take Carmen to prison for injuring another girl. She seduces him and he helps her escape. He is sent to prison for his part in her escape.

Scene 2: Carmen is at her favorite tavern. She dances for the men with her gypsy friends, but she waits for her soldier.

Scene 2: The toreador falls in love with Carmen, but she is in love with her soldier, who has returned for his gypsy. The toreador promises to return for Carmen. The soldier tries to leave to return to his battalion and Carmen says he must run away with her or he doesn't love her.

Scene 3: The gypsy hideout. The soldier goes to the gypsy hideout with Carmen and the other gypsies. He is a bandit now. They are stealing goods. The toreador returns for Carmen, saying Carmen's love never lasts more than six months so she must be done with the soldier. The soldier and the toreador have a swordfight and end in a draw; promising to continue at a later time. The toreador leaves and says, "anyone who loves me will be at my next bullfight." Carmen and the soldier fight about her feelings for the toreador and they are interrupted by the soldier's country girl who has come to tell him his mother is dying. His mother wants to tell him she forgives him before she dies. The soldier leaves with the country girl to go see his dying mother.

Scene 4: The bullfight. Carmen meets the toreador at the bullfight. He tells her she will be proud of him. And they embrace. The soldier is in the crowd. Carmen's friends tell her not to see him alone. She knows it is her time and stays behind the crowd to confront the soldier. The soldier tries to force Carmen to come with him, but she refuses; professing her love for the toreador. She tells the soldier to kill her or let her pass. There is a struggle and the soldier stabs Carmen and turns himself in to the authorities.

TAKE A BOW: