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2scvlad
Nice idea. As an opera-goer, I approve.
My wife went to The Death of Klinghoffer at the Met in October. I don't know if you're aware of all the controversy that surrounded it. They canceled the HD broadcast of it under great pressure and were under pressure to cancel the production which they resisted. For reasons I superficially understand it was portrayed as being anti-semitic. But it really wasn't. The argument seemed to be that if you portrayed Palestinian terrorists as human beings in any way, then you supported terrorism and were anti-Israel. But the opera, while it did make the terrorists actual people, did not in any way condone their actions. And artistically it was phenomenal.
Oh yes, if you are not aware, the opera is about the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in the '80s and the killing of one its passengers, Leon Klinghoffer. The music is by John Adams. The characters are Palestinian terrorists, passengers, and the crew of the ship.
My wife went to The Death of Klinghoffer at the Met in October. I don't know if you're aware of all the controversy that surrounded it. They canceled the HD broadcast of it under great pressure and were under pressure to cancel the production which they resisted. For reasons I superficially understand it was portrayed as being anti-semitic. But it really wasn't. The argument seemed to be that if you portrayed Palestinian terrorists as human beings in any way, then you supported terrorism and were anti-Israel. But the opera, while it did make the terrorists actual people, did not in any way condone their actions. And artistically it was phenomenal.
Oh yes, if you are not aware, the opera is about the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in the '80s and the killing of one its passengers, Leon Klinghoffer. The music is by John Adams. The characters are Palestinian terrorists, passengers, and the crew of the ship.
3norabelle414
I have season tickets to Arena Stage in Washington DC.
In November I saw Fiddler on the Roof which was excellent (as usual. Such a moving story.). It was a round theater which is a huge challenge to direct, I'm sure. The dancing was spectacular, and the singing was good though the sound struggled to fill such a huge theater.
In December I saw Five Guys Named Moe. It was in a much smaller theater (Arena has three very different stages) and had the opposite problems of Fiddler - I felt like all the lights and sounds were blasting me in the face. I was not familiar with the story prior to seeing the performance but it was not bad. A bit sexist, but a product of its time. There was a conga line with audience participation right before intermission, but that is definitely not my kind of thing so I stayed firmly seated.
In November I saw Fiddler on the Roof which was excellent (as usual. Such a moving story.). It was a round theater which is a huge challenge to direct, I'm sure. The dancing was spectacular, and the singing was good though the sound struggled to fill such a huge theater.
In December I saw Five Guys Named Moe. It was in a much smaller theater (Arena has three very different stages) and had the opposite problems of Fiddler - I felt like all the lights and sounds were blasting me in the face. I was not familiar with the story prior to seeing the performance but it was not bad. A bit sexist, but a product of its time. There was a conga line with audience participation right before intermission, but that is definitely not my kind of thing so I stayed firmly seated.
4PawsforThought
I wish I had easy access to performing arts other than the odd school play and one or two amateur (in the worst sense of the word) performances. But alas! I shall dream of days to come. Until then, I'll live vicariously through you more fortunate folks.
>2 scvlad: That sounds like a great opera, I'd love to see it. Can't believe it got cancelled for that.
>3 norabelle414: Ah, conga line! I hate that sort of thing! And Arena Stage looks impressive. Very nice exteriors.
>2 scvlad: That sounds like a great opera, I'd love to see it. Can't believe it got cancelled for that.
>3 norabelle414: Ah, conga line! I hate that sort of thing! And Arena Stage looks impressive. Very nice exteriors.
5magicians_nephew
Judy and I went out for a little something outside the box last week.
"Nutcracker Rouge" is that old chestnut "The Nutcracker" done in a little underground East Village Cafe Theatre by a young adventurous company called Theatre XIV.
It's the classic story -- young Clara receives the gift of a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve, in the shape of a handsome prince, and then falls asleep and dreams of sugar plums and fairies and eventually romance with the hot 'n hunky Prince that the Nutcracker turns into.
But this version was quite daring and sexy - a lot of the girls (and some of the guys) danced in skimpy little bra and panty outfits and even Clara - who starts out the evening in a long and demure green gown - winds up pirouetting in her skanties with her Prince who's honestly not wearing much more.
This sounds like Saturday Night at Minsky's except that all hands were amazingly talented dancers and singers. A lady came out and did an eye-popping arobatic dance inside a six foot round wooden hoop. (Think Cirque du Soleil after the kids have gone to sleep)
The Mistress of Ceremonies had a big belting voice that was equally at home with the original Tschaikovsky score or with teasing pop-disco favorites.
Didn't know what the heck to expect going in but we had a great time - and will look for this company again if we see them coming into town with something new.
"Nutcracker Rouge" is that old chestnut "The Nutcracker" done in a little underground East Village Cafe Theatre by a young adventurous company called Theatre XIV.
It's the classic story -- young Clara receives the gift of a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve, in the shape of a handsome prince, and then falls asleep and dreams of sugar plums and fairies and eventually romance with the hot 'n hunky Prince that the Nutcracker turns into.
But this version was quite daring and sexy - a lot of the girls (and some of the guys) danced in skimpy little bra and panty outfits and even Clara - who starts out the evening in a long and demure green gown - winds up pirouetting in her skanties with her Prince who's honestly not wearing much more.
This sounds like Saturday Night at Minsky's except that all hands were amazingly talented dancers and singers. A lady came out and did an eye-popping arobatic dance inside a six foot round wooden hoop. (Think Cirque du Soleil after the kids have gone to sleep)
The Mistress of Ceremonies had a big belting voice that was equally at home with the original Tschaikovsky score or with teasing pop-disco favorites.
Didn't know what the heck to expect going in but we had a great time - and will look for this company again if we see them coming into town with something new.
