M-whY

"How much are the cheapest tickets to tonight's performance of Carmen?" How cool would it be to see one of the world's best loved operas in arguably the world's most famous opera house?

"The cheapest tickets are $50."

"Can you show me where the seats are? Will I be able to see the stage?"

She took out a seating chart. "The seats are at the end of the rows. Your view will probably be limited. You won't be able to see the side of the stage you're sitting on," she explained.

She checked her computer. "Tonight's performance is sold out though. We do have tickets for next week."

I wasn't sure if I'd still be in Sydney next week.

"What about tonight's performance of War of the Roses?"

"All seats for the War of the Roses are $57. How old are you?"

"24."

"There's a discout for anyone 26 and under to all John Bell directed plays. Tickets are $27. All I need to see is some ID for proof of age." Another reason to do your travelling while you're young. 26 seems to be the magic number. I got a significant discount on my some of my flights, also because I was under 26.

I paid for a ticket. "The play begins at 7:00pm." She smiled. "Don't be late!"

War of the Roses is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy. Henry V, a powerful and inspirational leader, dies, leaving the throne to a young and inexperienced Henry VI. A power struggle ensues, as dukes and bishops challenge the new ruler's legitimacy and competence. As an adaptation, the actors were not dressed in traditional Shakespearean garb. Instead, most wore army camouflage, and the director took the liberty of using 21st century products as props for comedic effect.

I was a little disappointed not to be in one of the two larger venues, the Concert Hall and Opera Theatre. But performances there were well out of my budget. I'd have to be content in the smaller Playhouse. The show started promptly at 7:00pm. Now I've been to my fair share of plays, concerts, operas, ballets... but never had I been to one that lasted four hours. I didn't feel like spending $8 AUS on a program, so during the first hour was completely lost, as I tried to identify characters while deciphering Shakespeare's cryptic rhymes. By intermission, I had a firm grasp on the plot, but I still considered leaving early. I was a bit tired, and having skipped dinner, very hungry.

I stayed, and am glad I did. Throughout the show, I couldn't help but admire the actors' ability to memorize four hours worth of lines. Back in high school, we had to memorize sonnets. It would take me a couple hours just to memorize 14 lines. I can't comprehend how actors manage to memorize entire plays, along with the choreography that accompanies it.

Like other Shakespeare's plays, most characters died at some point in the story. As an actor's character died, he would reappear in a different costume, playing a different part. Having never read the Henry VI trilogy, I have no idea how much the War of the Roses deviated from the original storyline, but if Bell made any changes, he managed to incorporate them seamlessly. I was totally satisfied.

After culturally enhancing my mind with such a brilliant performance, I proceeded to further deterioate my body with some greasy McDonald's food.

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Knowing people are reading keeps me motivated to continue the updates!