I got a call about 3 weeks ago from a friend who is a reptile vet, his wife works at the Orpheum theater here in Memphis. He was wanting to borrow a donkey for the production of Aida, the donkey he was wanting actually belonged to a mutual friend of ours.
While we were discussing whats been going on in our lives we got on the subject of the laws that if passed would ban burms. He told me to go to the amphibian and reptile vet association and read an article they have published about the ban, while we were on this subject he asked if I had any large snakes I would loan him for the opera and I told all the boas were breeding but I had a large burm and 2 young burms. He asked to borrow the large burm "Herman Munster" and if I would carry him across the stage during act II, I had to decline since my work schedule wouldn't permit it. He then asked if I was sure Herman was safe and I said yes so he talked a ballerina into carrying him. When it came time for rehearsal Herman went into shed as did the 2 smaller burms so I had to call another friend who had a young albino female that i knew was safe.
Herman finally shed right before the final dress rehearsal and made his debute. The ballerina decided to go with the smaller one since Herman was so heavy and the priest ended up performing his aria with Herman on his shoulders. I got to attend the final rehearsal and it was nice to see people gaining an appreciation for these gentle giants.
Burm at the opera