Following the huge success of the previous GALA seasons: "Myrakellys", "Where the Sun rises," "Shade of Dawn," "00:00 – The Darkness", "Touch," "8:31," "The Story Untold," "From Eden," "February 30th," and in this tenth year, GALA came back with a musical called "Pandora's Box." Through two additional member recruitments of the dance and logistics teams, the GALA organizing committee was officially established with more than 80 people. It was known that iIn order to complete the filming of GALA, the logistics team members have been continuously preparing props and stage settings since December 2021. Since then, the process of setting up a theater, installing the stage, running the scenes, and finishing the filming at the Star Galaxy Theater has continued from early morning to late night every day.

Organizing community of GALA 2021 with over 80 people

It has been confirmed that all members of the commitee have received at least two vaccinations, tested negative for Covid-19 within 48 hours of the performance, and followed 5K rules for quarantine safety during the entire GALA preparation and filming process. Also, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, this year's GALA has become more special than the previous years, when all of the dancers, actors, and singers had to perform without spectators, record and sell tickets for five premiere shows online through the Zoom Webinar platform. 50% of the total profits will go to the Covid-19 Charity Foundation.

The GALA Dance Team - the dancers who contributed to the success of the play

GALA Logistics Team - “the silent hands" behind the aura of the stage.

GALA’s plots have always allowed viewers profound and humanistic contents, and GALA 2021 is no exception. “Pandora's Box” gave us a glimpse into the dark hidden corners of the already harsh showbiz world, when people are busy running after the luxury, without knowing that it could disappear in a split moment. Social class division was also cleverly mentioned when Pandora's concert tickets were only for the elite of the elite, and only money was not enough. GALA HAT 2021 also taught us about love and hatred, when ambition becomes an obsession in the mind, and then harms each other, which in the end all comes from everyday things in life such as marital relationships or family affection. The boundary between love and hatred suddenly becomes thinner than ever, and once the mask of love falls, only the pain of hatred remains.

The two MCs introducing GALA HAT: Pandora’s Box

The whole message was delivered through the story of Pandora's 10th Concert, the most prestigious diva with music parties held at countless places, but no one really knows her true identity behind that mysterious mask. The Myrakellys train leaves, the 10th Concert lights up, and Pandora's welcome is like a dream in heaven, a masterpiece of the time, as they always say.

Pandora - "Used to be the star, the ray of light; now she is the past."

Everything is thought to go well, but shocking news came: Pandora passed away suddenly on Myrakellys. Pandora's death caused the media to explode, who saw it as a lucrative bait for the upcoming sensational headlines. During the welcoming ceremony, the female diva said she hid clues around the ship, and when put together, what we get is how to open Pandora's box in the legend, a mysterious box without a lock. Is there a connection between her death and that box?

An investigation was immediately launched, as the Myrakellys continued its transoceanic voyage. Hazel Yaomi, the "blade of justice" of the detective world, became the main agent of the case, and it seems that her partner Noah Axel has always appeared. Used to be the couple that solved all the most difficult cases, but it seemed there was something wrong between them. At the end of the musical, the secret of Noah, which Hazel had been hiding for a long time, was finally revealed.

The famous detective duo Noah and Hazel.

In addition, the appearance of several other characters on Myrakellys also received special attention from viewers. They were Vega Athena, a former diva who was once a phenomenon in the showbiz, and was also a teacher who followed Pandora from the beginning of her career; Alec Hermes, Pandora's great manager of the same mind with a far-reaching conspiracy; Samael Chandler, Pandora's personal doctor and also one of the people who knew the most secrets about her; and Marie Sampson, the owner of the Eden Orphanage, who suddenly appeared on the train with an invisible link to the singer. Each one of them has hidden secrets, some have already had the intentions to take over the female diva's fortune, while others simply aspire to be find their loved one after years of searching.

Marie and Sam, who invited her to Pandora's 10th Concert

Vega, A ghostly and powerful diva.

The musical "Pandora's Box" has brought viewers from surprise to surprise, and as the end approaches, the details become more and more dramatic, and every moment becomes more thrilling as the veil of secrecy continues to unfold. In fact, the beauty of GALA HAT 2021 comes not only from the stage image, the passionate dance of the dancers, the inner voice of the singers, but also from the natural acting of the actors. Every detail of the musical gives us a lesson in life, shows the harsh reality of life, but ultimately, it's the delivery of humane messages with many positive beliefs.

The organizing committee being emotional after completing the recording the entire musical

GALA HAT 2021: "Pandora's Box" gave the viewers insight into the creativity, professionalism, as well as the talents of the actors, dancers, singers and all members of the organizing commitee from Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted and other  high schools throughout Hanoi. Pandora's Box opens the secrets of the diva, and the 2021 GALA performance must have opened up a lot of reflection and aftertaste in the hearts of viewers. The spectacular success of the musical night was the most invaluable gift for students who were not discouraged by the difficulties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, but rather turned it into an opportunity to do their best for art, for passion, for "GALA Ten - GALA Joy."

Writer JO: Hoang Huyen Anh - Literature 2124

Photos: Provided by GALA 2021 organizing commitee