Florence,
Tuscany,
Italy
Friday, May 22, 1981
Regrettably this was just a short stop on our way to the Italian/Yugoslav border. The trip was both very sombre and one of anticipation, both excited and apprehensive. Talk about your mixed emotions! In preparation for our coming Yugoslav tour and after a year together, the cast was split into two. The group that was going on to Yugoslavia consisted of the principal vocalists,dancers, band members and techies, all of whom played multiple roles in the show. For the rest, their tour and extraordinary year was finished. Our departure from Rome Station was very emotional as those of us going on were given a tremendous send-off by those who would soon be going home. An impromptu final performance on the train platform shattered anyone's hope of keeping their composure as the train finally pulled away.
We changed trains in Firenza (Florence) and had some time to play tourist, but a few short hours is just not enough time to take in the grandeur of this city's cultural assets. Our timing couldn't have been worse as many of the more famous and reknowned artworks, including the statue of David, were not available for public viewing due to restoration work.
