As soon as the lights dimmed, something magical happened. In a stunning twist of fate, I found myself wide awake, without a single eyelid drooping. I was at the "Opera of Hope," and the show turned out to be absolutely captivating!
The performance was flawless, perfectly crafted from start to finish. The dancers? Top-notch! Who wouldn’t love a breakdancing interlude in the middle of an opera? For a solid 90 minutes, I was glued to my seat, completely unaware of the time passing. It was the best performance I’ve seen in ages.
Mabel Preach, the director and mastermind behind this spectacular show, deserves the highest award Germany can offer. I wish I had a direct link to the presidency! Not only did she orchestrate a riveting performance, but she also has an incredible talent for bringing out the best in everyone she works with. It’s as if she has a magical touch for talent!
And the choreography (Bisi Bangiwe Ka Jobela)? Straight from South Africa and worthy of a perfect 100% on my very unofficial scoring system. I couldn’t spot a single mistake! It was so good that I even considered signing up for dance lessons—until I remembered my two left feet.
The script? At one point, I felt like I was either part of the writing team or that they had somehow read my unpublished memoir, Coming to Germany. It beautifully captured the migrant experience, from the chaotic family train journey to “Bahnhof Kellinghusen” in Hamburg. It made me reflect deeply on the struggles of teachers trying to help diverse kids who face language barriers. Mabel even touched on life in asylum centers, which added an emotional depth to the performance.
When Mabel spoke about Ghana and the early days of the J.J. Rawlings Revolution, I couldn’t help but smile. She has an amazing ability to make history come alive. Let’s just say I’m a fan for many reasons; but that’s a story for another time.
Isaac Junior was glued to the keyboard for the entire 90 minutes, making the keys sing! I even recognized a few familiar faces on stage. Eileen’s voice stood out, even from the back row, while Samuel had made the long trip from Ghana to be part of the show. And my very own Jada was up there, shining in her element!
Let’s not forget the unsung heroes; the technicians. The sound quality was excellent, and the lighting, although a bit heavy on the dark side, somehow added to the atmosphere. The venue was packed with around 800 people, yet the air conditioning kept us all comfortable.
Afterward, Tano, teased me, “Man, you didn’t sleep this time!” Nope, I didn’t! In fact, I’m already looking forward to next year’s show. Who knows? Maybe by then I’ll finally learn how to breakdance!
Desmond John Beddy
The Opera of Hope -A Musical Masterpiece
