I need help choosing between two options for my opening number.
There's a ship coming in to port on a small, isolated Pacific island--about 1875.
1. My MFC sings alone to start--about her hope that the ship brings an answer from the Governor on a neighboring island, in response to her request to start a school; she's joined by her auntie and uncle, hoping for information on whether they can return to uncle's original island (quarantined due to leprosy or something); and then joined by her mother hoping for rich fabrics and patterns in the "latest" European styles. And eventually joined in my others, all with their wishes and hopes and dreams on the ship in the distance.
(eventually this will morph--men on the ship see the small island and sing of hope and fear, longing to be on land but missing their families. They're being exiled from Spain).
or
2. start a bit later with the direct clash. MFC sings, joined with other islanders, about too many men, what are they doing here, will they make us sick, will they hurt us, etc. while the men/exiles sing where are the women, where are the streets and houses and horses and carriages, what will we do, how will we live.
I'm inclined for the first, and eventually get to the second. But I also see the potential with starting with clash instead of happy.
Opinions?
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