Traffic stops and hallways clear as the diva arrives. Wanda’s attendants escort her backstage ahead of her performance of a role that she has perfected over years of delighting audiences.
Before the show, she had a quick pedicure touch-up. Her hooves tend to pick up hay and debris. That is because Wanda is a donkey.
Wanda has played roles in classic New York Metropolitan Opera productions since 2022, including La Bohème, a tragic story set in 19th-century Paris.
In Act II, Wanda stands with performers, shoppers and sellers. The donkey pulls a colourful cart with toys for kids at a busy street market.
Wanda’s friend Max is an elegant brown horse who takes the stage after her. Those who have performed alongside the pair say they are very calm and good at what they do.
