10/25/2008

War and Peace - The Comic

After seeing some excellent cartoons done by the multi-talented Doc at Social Zymurgy The Culture of Beer, I commissioned one and by commissioned, I mean begged.  He came up with a perfect depiction of me and some of the goings on I've described here.  Hey Ma! I made the funny papers!  You can read his accompanying explanation and check out the comments here.  
  
Doc's timing was perfect, opera season at the Canadian Opera Company has begun again in earnest with a little production of War and Peace by Sergei Prokofiev based on Tolstoy's novel.

At nearly four hours, the opera was only a bit longer than Napoleon was tall but the show was epic befitting the source material.  The orchestra and chorus were excellent as they always are and the leads poured their souls into it as well.  Doc tried to save me the time by letting me know it was all Napoleon's fault and he was correct.  He didn't mention the strumpet at the heart of several love affairs but I had more than enough time to get to know her.  For a full review of the show, you can read more here

Due to scheduling issues with Deborah, I had to switch my usual Friday night slot for a Saturday afternoon show and so the seats were different as well.  Rather than my usual orchestra seats I sat in the third ring (there are five horseshoes in this joint) and from there, I could see the production well but there was also a lot to distract me.  

While I don't mind sitting on high in judgment above the madding crowd, even Hekyll and Jekyll might have found this perch a bit much.  The sightlines to the stage were excellent but along the way, there's also a full view of the orchestra, the exit signs and of course the heads of codgers nodding off everywhere.  I'm the most distractible person I know so I'm glad that next Friday, order will be restored and I'll be back in my regular seat for Don Giovanni.

Thanks once again Doc, I love the cartoon.  Now get back to your anniversary celebrations with the lovely Flannery Alden.

12 comments:

Gifted Typist said...

With doc's cartooning talent and you as material, this could be the beginning of a beautiful thing.

Fran said...

You know Dale, I am a sucker for the sound of your voice and from the glance at your school picture, when you were but a wee lad...

However, now I am presented with not only a cartoon image, but then actual contemporary image of you.

And image of you that has a woman leaping over your head with her legs in a wide split.

Am I supposed to not respond to that sort of stimuli?

Oh forget it, it would never work out. First of all, I am A-m-e-r-i-c-a-n, which translates no doubt to you as American't!

That is but the tip of our potential relationship iceberg, is it not????

Honeypot I shall never be.

What was this post about again?

Signed,
Off Topic and Heavily in Like With You

Tanya Espanya said...

Oh, great...we're going on Wednesday night...but we'll be sitting in the little two-seater box. I'll take my shoes off and relax...probably end up nodding off..

paperback reader said...

Just by knowing that opera exists, you're the most cultured person I "know."

Unknown said...

I thought you said there were 5 horses in the joint..but then, it's opera so who knows?

I love the cartoon..very much. You are way more handsome than I had imagined...with way more hair. :) I like the photograph of you on their website as well. :)

X. Dell said...

Don Giovanni's a war horse. I've seen it a ton of times. I've never seen War and Peace, however, so that, to me, seems like a more interesting evening.

So, how did the opera compare with the book?

BTW, SZ's cartoon is precious.

Dale said...

What kind of material should I be though Gifted Typist, a retro velour or something more modern?

She meant nothing to me Fran, okay, well, we did have a laugh or two. If this is the tip of our relationship iceberg, does that mean we've still got two thirds of us to discover? Never say can't!

It was a good show Tanya but your stamina may be put to the test. Luckily, someone occasionally drops their cane or walker in the audience snapping you back to attention.

Pistols - "I know!"

The hair's starting to recede Melly so look long and hard at that photo and remember it always.

I've not seen Don Giovanni so I'm looking forward to it too X. Dell. I enjoyed War and Peace and would have to say it was a shorter read than the book. They did a good job condensing it into a fairly straightforward retelling. The cast was enormous so it took a few minutes here and there settling in my mind just who everyone was. Adding to the interesting staging were projections and little blurbs at the start of each scene to help you along with how much time had passed or any major events that might have happened in between. I'm not sure why I'm implying that I've ever even gone near the book but there you go. I wonder if Doc could draw me reading the book to help with the illusion?

Coaster Punchman said...

Oh my gosh (said in my best David Archuletta voice) - that was funny!

Dread Pirate Jessica said...

My opera boyfriend described 'War and Peace' to me, which I missed - sounds like they blew the budget on that. We saw Donny G on Thursday and thought it was absolute cat crap. It looked like fucking Donny G died of dyspepsia. Ripoff.

Dale said...

I love it when you talk squinty eyed like that CP.

I'm a bit worried about Donnie G, Mistress. One of the papers gave it an excellent review, the other trashed it mercilessly. I worry now that you've upped the crapola factor. War and Peace was pretty excellent.

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