by Unknown
“We’re a present from Mike, Jo. And we hope you have as many happy trails as we had,” Dale said.
“If you ever need us again, you know where to find us,” said Roy with a smile. Then they turned and left the stage. Again, Jo and the orchestra gave their bows and Jo left the stage.
Sharon was waiting with water, and Jo drank the whole glass in big gulps. “I’ve never seen an audience like this,” Sharon said. “Are they always this vocal and supportive?”
Jo smiled and nodded. “They express themselves a little differently,” she said. “But even I have never seen them like this. I think we struck a nerve.”
Sharon nodded as she led Jo off to her dressing room. She had to freshen up and change into a costume for the second half. Sharon had looked at the program and was surprised to find it simply said ‘something for the families, and especially the children.’ Boy are they in for a thrill, she thought.
In her dressing room Jo made a call to the Lexington to see if they had heard any more. The answer was short and sweet. Nothing new, just standby. With that, she slumped back into her chair. Jo’s mind was filling with dread that something terrible had happened. Why had she not heard anything? Had they started their moves yet? What was the delay? All of the questions ran through her mind as her mother brought out the simple blue and white dress with apron. Without much to say or much enthusiasm, Jo changed and got ready. She let her hair down and put a bow in it. She put a little rouge in her cheeks and some lipstick on her lips. Then, when the first call went out, she looked at her mom.
“I really want it,” she said sadly. Her mom gave her another hug.
“So do I, dear.”
Then out the door they went, and through the applause, back onto the stage. Before leaving, Jo had put on a white shimmering gown that tied in front, over the dress she was wearing. There was a hood that she pulled over her head to complete the effort to hide the costume. Onstage, the orchestra had been joined by a chorus of over 50 people.
When the applause died down, she smiled again and said, “Mike and I talked a long time about what we would do in this second half of the program. Of all the things you have seen of Earth on your televisions and in the film theaters, we both agreed there was only one place that people could see the best of what Earth could be. These people helped us laugh and cry, learn and grow, and even have a few fantasies along the way. In it all there is a magic that we have come to know and love,” she said.
The lights got very dark and the lighting in the shell turned to a deep blue with only the lights on the music stands giving any other color. There was a lone light from the top of the shell down on Jo as she raised her baton. All other lights around the amphitheater were out.
The introduction to the piece of music gave only a hint, but soon the melody from, When You Wish Upon A Star, came through loud and clear. As the melody began, the deep blue light softened and brightened, silhouetting the orchestra and chorus. The audience again applauded and let out with an audible “ahhhh.” But the real surprise came to Jo herself, when as the final phrase began; she heard the voice of Jiminy Cricket singing loud and clear. He stepped from behind the curtain to the “Ooos and Ahhs” of the children. Pinocchio had come out only half a year ago.
Like a bolt out of the blue,
Fate steps in to see you through.
When you wish, upon a star
Your dreams- come - true.
As she ended the music, she looked over to see Jiminy in his coat and tails give a jaunty wave to the audience and say, “I’ll see ya later.” Then he waved to Jo and eased back off stage.
This time, she heard the yells of approval, not from the parents as much, but from the children. She watched the cricket walk off the stage, but instead of disappearing, he took a seat to watch.
Jo immediately went into the next piece of music, It’s a Small World. In it, the chorus would sing. But as she motioned to them, they were looking elsewhere, as on cue, little children dressed in traditional clothes from all around the Earth came onto the stage singing the song. Jo did not realize that the chorus was in on it, and they came in just a little later as planned. The Therans thought the clothes on the children from Earth were charming, and were delighted when they were joined by children dressed in traditional Theran clothing as well. They were dancing across the stage together as the music reached its climax, then they stopped and began to point to places off stage as the orchestra played the last of the piece.
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small – small – small -- small -- world.
With each of the phrases, the orchestra slowed the beat and emphasized the music. And unseen to Jo and the others, lights began to come on all around the amphitheater. They lit up what looked like buildings, and parks, and sculpted bushes and trees. Then with the last few words, the lights came on to reveal a structure that had appeared around the entire shell the orchestra was in. A cry went out as the last note played and the last lights came on. As if by magic, the audience found themselves looking down Main Street, USA, and the orchestra was inside Cinderella’s Castle. There were even small flags flying from the turrets. There was no doubt to anyone there Disney had arrived on Thera.
Jo at first could not see what the cheers were about, but she saw some of the illumination around the shell and stepped out onto what appeared to be a stone bridge that had somehow appeared in front of the stage. As she looked around, she found herself staring at the side of the castle with its battlements and turrets and wondering at what other surprises Mike had planned. She almost couldn’t believe it.
It took another few minutes before the applause died down, and Jo continued the concert. This time, the three little pigs came onstage along with the big bad wolf to reenact their story while the orchestra played Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? As the characters danced around the stage watching their simulated houses get blown down, Jo could hear the children talking behind her, obviously telling their parents about how the wolf wouldn’t be able to blow down the bricks.
But the next item on the program had a surprise from Jo herself. It was a medley of songs from the movie Snow White. Through the first part of the music, no characters appeared. Then, as the music slowed, the lights everywhere dimmed. The Concertmaster stood and took the baton from Jo and helped her remove her white robe. All anyone could see was the silhouette of Jo as she moved into the darkened area of the stage. Then as the choir added their voices to the orchestra’s accompaniment, the lights came up. The audience found Jo dressed as Snow White herself, and standing in the yard of the house of the seven dwarfs. She looked up at the audience and began to sing, With a Smile and a Song. It was just like in the movie they had seen years before. Slowly, gracefully, Jo moved around the garden and sang about how her cares fade away as the song is sung. At that instant, for many of the children, the face they would remember as Snow White stopped being an animation, and became Jo. For the parents, her song was a reflection of how she felt about what had recently happened in her own life, and it stirred them.
Then as the music changed, Jo walked to the other side of the stage and the lights there came up revealing more of the garden and the well. She stepped over to it and peered inside. Then she looked back with a smile on her face and sang.
Want to know a secret?
Promise not to tell?
We are standing by a wishing well.
Make your wish into the well,
That’s all you have to do.
And if you hear it echoing,
Your wish will soon come true.
When she then began wishing for the one she loved, many of the parents could feel the tears well up in their eyes. Jo was singing out her own sorrows and making her own wishes. In her own way, she was telling them how she felt, and how strong she was trying to be in the face of the situation. In the front row, even the King and President were sitting
with glossy eyes at the emotions expressed.
As that song came to an end, the lights went down again as the chorus got louder in a transition. Then a lone figure was seen in the woods on the other side of the stage. It was the character Prince Charming, and he sang One Song. It wasn’t Mike, it was a cartoon character, which only added to the emotion the audience felt.
Then he was gone and when the lights came back up in the garden again, Jo found herself surrounded by the seven dwarfs, sitting and listening to her sing. Again the chorus provided the transition and Jo put out her hand to rub the face of Doc, sitting beside her. She was surprised how lifelike they looked and felt. Doc even sighed and smiled at her as she started to sing Someday My Prince Will Come. Now she could hear crying and sobs in the audience as she sang.
Someday my prince will come,
Someday I’ll find my love,
And how thrilling that moment will be,
When the prince of my dreams comes to me.
He’ll whisper I love you,
And steal a kiss or two
She began to go between the dwarfs and sing to them instead of to the audience. Even Jo’s eyes began to tear up as she sang.
Though he’s far away,
I’ll find my love someday.
Someday when my dreams come true.
Then as the chorus sang the next stanza, Jo took the hands of the dwarfs in turn and began to dance with them. It was a waltz like song and the crowd, used to seeing her dance with her husband, knew the significance. The song ended as the lights went down on all but Snow White, as she sang the last few bars ending the medley. The adults in the audience rose from their seats and cheered, crying and emotionally drained, while the children watched, not understanding what had just happened.
But their time was next. The trumpets sounded and began a familiar march as a group of children entered the stage marching together. Again, there were familiar faces there, except this time they were in color. There was Dave, Jimmy, Darlene, Annette and the rest of the Mouseketeers singing the familiar start of their show.
Who’s the leader of the club
That’s made for you and me?
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.
The children all started following along joining in on the fun just as the sign inside the shell began flashing, telling the parents to look under their seats. There, they found another surprise and the excitement shot through the 20,000 people like a cannon.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse.
Forever let us hold our banner high
High-high-high.
Come along and sing this song and join our jamboree
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!
But that was not all. Out from the side of the stage came Mickey – complete with top hat and cane, to lead the rest of the song. Now the children were cheering as well.
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree.
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!
The song ended. Mickey was waiving to everyone. Then he walked back and shook Jo’s hand. In the all too familiar voice, he said, “Glad to finally meet you, Mrs. Wilkes.”
Jo was taken aback. From what she had heard, Mickey’s character never spoke. But this one did, and it sounded like Mickey. Then she saw one of his eyes wink at her, as he turned and waived to the children again and made his way to where Jiminy Cricket was seated with a smile on his face. Then she looked at the audience. She saw a sea of smiling faces, each topped off with a set of large mouse ears.
Finally the last piece of the program began as a medley of all Disney favorites. Again, the unknown dancers appeared onstage to sing Zippedy Do Dah along with the chorus. Then as they left, the stage changed into a bedroom and Peter Pan once again taught the Darlings how to fly. The audience watched spellbound as these characters did rise off the floor with a little bit of pixie dust and some happy thoughts. As they flew off, the scene onstage changed again as the Circus came into town featuring a small baby elephant with big ears. The clowns danced, tumbled, and squirted each other in a mad melee while Dumbo made his way around the stage. Then they moved to the side as Tigger bounced in, followed by Winnie the Pooh. Even Christopher Robin was there to take Pooh’s hand and seemingly go on another adventure in the 100 acre wood.
More and more, the characters came onstage, made an appearance during their part of the music and then moved to one side to make room for the others. Even the seven dwarfs came back singing Hi Ho and waiving. Pinoccio and Jiminy Cricket, leading the audience to “Give a Little Whistle”, followed them. The children even whistled when Jiminy put his hand to his imaginary ear.
The music changed again, and as Jo led, Prince Charming again stepped onto the stage. But this time, the music was not from Snow White. It was the beginning of a waltz from Cinderella. He walked up to Jo, still in her Snow White costume and tugged at her skirt to get her attention. At first, she was not sure what was happening, but through his gesticulations, she realized he wanted to dance with her. First, she shook her head, but he was insistent. Then the Concertmaster stood and began leading the orchestra, motioning for her to do it.
With a slight shrug of resignation, Jo stepped down from the podium, and as the waltz began, she took his hand and felt his on her waist. Step by careful step, they began to gracefully waltz around the stage as the chorus sang.
I know you,
I waltzed with you once upon a dream.
I know you,
The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam,
And I know it’s true,
That visions are seldom all they seem.
But if I know you,
I know what you’ll do.
You’ll love me as much,
The way you did once
Upon a dream.
The waltz ended and the orchestra began to transition into another song. Jo had not wanted to dance with the character. It had brought all the fears and emotions back like a sudden storm. Her eyes misted over and she turned to go back to her podium.
But the character wouldn’t let go of her hand. She turned back to look as Prince Charming reached up and pulled off his mask.
It was Mike.
“Mike!” Jo screamed out as she rushed back into his arms. She felt him crush her to him and kiss her neck and cheek. Her tears ran down her face as they spun around, clinging to each other. Neither of them heard the cheers from the people watching, nor the chorus as it continued.
No matter how your heart is grieving,
If you keep on believing,
The dreams that you wish, will come true.
On the last line, Mike pulled back a little and places his lips on hers in a gentle kiss that would stir nations watching on television. It was only interrupted as a small voice cried out, “Mommy!” Little Timothy came bounding across the stage as fast as his legs would carry him and jumped into his mother’s waiting arms.
This time they did hear the cheering that rose up. It was as if an entire nation had cried out as one, and shouted to the top of their lungs in great joy. It almost frightened the people onstage, but Jim Davidson just smiled and motioned for the sound to be turned up full. The orchestra and chorus had been prepared for most of this and were still playing. Their music cut through all the shouts and applause.
When your heart is in your dreams,
No request is too extreme.
When you wish upon a star as dreamers do.
Out from the side of the stage came Jim and Sharon Ramey and Mary and Ashley Wilkes. Ashley was holding little Mary in his arms. Through her teary eyes, Jo looked down at the audience. Captain Dickson, Hadaie, Olena, Dr. Nolan, Pike and the others they knew aboard the Lexington, and even a few others they had never met had joined the King and President. The smiles from all of them spoke their support and joy. The characters had all now circled the couple and their family onstage to add their support as well. It was then that Mike walked up to his father.
“Thanks Dad. I was sure glad you cam
e through.”
Ashley Wilkes wrapped his arms around his son in a big hug. Through his own tears he said, “I’ll never go away again.”
Fate is kind.
It brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing.
Mike then turned Jo to him. “Jo, you need to know something,” he said. “All these characters are not computer images. They are the real things. And they were brought here as a gift to you from that man right over there,” he said pointing to the right side of the stage.
Jo let out a gasp and placed her hands to her mouth.
The orchestra grew louder and began emphasizing notes to announce the arrival of the President and CEO of Disney. He stepped out from the curtain to the surprise of the crowd in attendance. He had taken control of the flagging and tired company 20 years before and had personally fought to give it new life. The most inspiring part of his quest had not been his ideas as much as his image.
His real name was Ed Powers, but he looked almost exactly like the man who founded the company those centuries ago. As he walked on the stage the audience immediately recognized him from the television programs they had seen. To them, he was Walt Disney. When he had come to the corporation, everyone had called him “the reincarnation,” both for his looks and his dedication to all the Disney represented. He had made his mark all the way up the ladder and with tonight’s program he had fulfilled his dreams as well.
All the audience knew was that Walt Disney had come from Earth to be with them on this special night. It was almost more than some of them could bear. As he stepped to the center of the stage the choir sang:
Like a bolt out of the blue,
Fate steps in to see it through.