I know I've violated some universal law of backpacking by bringing a formal dress and Calvin Klein stilettos with me on the road, but something had to be done for my first opera! Tonight I attended Don Giovanni at the Sydney Opera House, wearing my little outfit plus a couple of additions that will get me some backpacker cred: I tied my $3 purple flip flops to the money belt strings under my dress. I felt truly sneaky and clever. Show me the woman who can walk 2 miles in stilettos and I will run the other way!
Back to the show, though. Don Giovanni was a humorous tale of an Italian playboy who romances women indiscriminately: fat, thin, old, young...each was simply a different flavor to satisfy different hungers. Part of me admires a complete lack of standards in a man - it's rather like equal opportunity for the dating world. As must always happen, this Don Juan gets his comeuppance; but not before some truly amusing antics and amazing singing. My favorite character was Lady Elvira, the most recent in a string of jilted lovers who still has a soft spot for the town's bad boy. She was the one female character in the opera who was realistic; even if it was realism in a sad form. She was ever-forgiving and ever-loving yet ready to beat him senseless for his crimes. If you love something, set it free....and if it doesn't come back, hunt it down and kill it! Female philosophy through and through!
The opera house was vastly different from Beijing's. Where Beijing overwhelmed, Sydney intrigued. The concept seemed to be the warping of small spaces. Stairways interwove and overlapped while odd hallways drew you into corners. It was rather maze-like and fun to wander through. Plus, it boasted a view of the Harbour Bridge and ferries that more than made up for the cost of admission. At intermission a Scottish physicist bought me a glass of wine and elaborated on the intricacies of Mozart opera...this was made so much more amusing with flip flops under my dress.
After the night of wine, scorned women, and Mozart had finished I 'flopped my way back to the hostel.
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