2/12/2011

With Act Two You Get Egg Roll

Thankfully, I'd eaten before heading to the opera last night and so felt no obligation to hang around for egg rolls.

If you'd told Pat, Henry, Richard or Mao that one day, their meeting would be the subject of an opera (Nixon In China), they might have called the whole thing off.  I'm more a fan of saying "I have season tickets" than of any modern opera I've seen and this production did nothing to change my mind.

Don't get me wrong, I thought it charming that a number of audience members wore red as though to match the stage and the music was brilliant and insistent although not incredibly operatic.  Straw hats off to you John Adams.  As much as I enjoyed the music, it seemed at war with the performers who had a tough time singing the required 2 or 3 metaphors a minute at us.

Also in competition for my attention were the twelve television sets on stage broadcasting variations of actual footage from Nixon's trip to China while the performers were put through their paces.  Throw in a somewhat out of sync and rather lengthy Tai Chi demonstration by the chorus and all I could think about was when I first saw the name Mao Tse Tung in (news)print as a child, I thought it was probably pronounced Mayo TeeSee Tongue.

I didn't feel too much like a crook leaving at halftime but wish I'd stayed long enough to see if the Intermission clocked in at eighteen and a half minutes.

Next week is "The Magic Flute" which I think is a porn so that ought to be awesome!

12 comments:

Dread Pirate Jessica said...

I'd been sorry I'm missing that one, but you're comforting me.

Coaster Punchman said...

Sorry your operatic experience was less than perfect. Would you like me to kidnap them and throw them in the slammer with the Falun Gong people? I've always thought practicing yoga should be a crime, too.

And FYI, it's not a play about a skin flute in case you were wondering.

Zed said...

You couldn't have stayed for a few more minutes and gotten me an egg roll, Dale?

I'm looking forward to your review of next week's presentation. Try to get me a thin slice of flute cake please.

Barbara Bruederlin said...

I heard them gushing about Nixon in China the other day and it didn't strike me as too gush-worthy. Operas in English (or Mandarin for that matter) freak me out a little.

I'd hold out for The Skin Flute too.

Dale said...

I'm sure somewhere there's a most excellent production Mistress but this one failed to charm me. And, I hate modern opera so call me fussy!

I appreciate the offer CP, I agree on the yoga crime. Please proceed.

First it's the silk long johns you're moaning about Zed and now the egg rolls? Turn on that toaster oven and I'll drop over with some.

I don't think I've seen an English opera I've enjoyed Barbara. I have seen one in Mandarin I wasn't crazy about too so there you go! We should write one and change our own minds.

偵探社 said...

hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!

尋人 said...

hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!

討債 said...

hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!

Zed said...

Wow, your writing on theater are really appreciated.

So I got my silk long johns by Fedex the other day, and I'm wearing them indoors, to the park, to the theater, to hockey games, and to a wedding. They're so practical and everyone loves them. I get so many compliments whenever I wear them.

I'll get the toaster oven going for the egg rolls. I hope you're bringing rice as well. General Tso chicken would be a good thing too.

X. Dell said...

Nixon in China, like America, needs a full-time president, I mean patron. But I can a-Ford to give you a pardon for leaving early. And if only Agnew you were posting, I would have been here earlier with the comment.

Dale said...

When you come up to model your silks Zed we'll go for the best General Tso's chicken ever at Szechuan Szechuan! Hurry, I'm hungry!

I hope you live in a White House X. Dell, your comments were just so presidential!

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hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!