Theater Review

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Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor ("The Merry Wives" Opera.) by Carl Otto Nicolai
  Landestheater Detmold, 13.06.04
 
  Well... I also watched one of the last rehearsals on the 8th or so, but it didn't leave such impressions as tonight. This opera is apparently based on the Shakespeare play, by the same name, (or at least that's what I understood; I did not understand most of the text, and have never read the play, so I can't say with any certainty, how similar they are.)
  Tonight was the premiere of the other cast, (there was one premiere before today, but I had rehearsal that night... or thought I did, so that when I finished, 5 minutes before the Curtain, I had nothing to wear, and no seat reserved.) Anyhow, they did a good job of it, (I am only aware of 3 little things that didn't go right: One Technical, one a stumble in text, and one a small movement forgotten.) All the singing was beyond criticism though, (at least beyond what I can criticise.)
  The Music was mostly nice, with some parts too complex for easy listening (not that it's a really Bad thing, Not at all,) and two parts which were marvellous: The quartet with Anna, (a young maid,) and the three suitors, and also Anna's Aria. AAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhh.... Yes. But I will get to that at the end of this review.
  The production was mediocre, to my tastes, (Although I dearly treasure the producer, Helen Malkowsky; She is a wonderful person, and has my respect. I'm sure that I just didn't understand some of the things.) All the same though, being my regular Completely Honest, There were some things "I didn't understand." I will first mention the things I Did like: There were black-lights, and the Choir in dark clothes, with white gloves, and head-pieces, for the fairy-land part. Also, the stage design, with the big table, tilted, thereby creating the classical raked stage for much of the piece.
  What I really didn't get, was why Falstaff (The Womanising central roll,) put on a tough, black leather, biker-style costume, when he went to woo, and to trysts. I would have pictured him more as a Dandy. Well... perhaps not. But he should be Good looking, right? And for me, that necessitates good grooming, and cleanliness, (Which goes quite against my understanding of the "Bad-Boy-Biker" look.) Also, in the dress-rehearsal I watched, I completely missed the fact that the Cross-dresser at the beginning was Falstaff. It was only half way through tonight, that I figured it out.
  OK, is there anything else to say about the performance? Nothing particular; Just that I'd like to see it more times, (Especially if I can get someone to explain what all the text means.) So... on to what realy captivated me... (Which really ought to be an entry into my Journal, but I'm here, writing this, at the moment.)
 
  Kirsten Höner zu Siederdissen! (Oh MAN... I never knew she had such a difficult name, until I looked it up now.) She played Anna, the Young(ish) daughter, with three suitors. (One of whom She likes, and Two that her parents like.) This is the first time in my life I have felt this way. (And now that I KNOW I've got your attention, my reader, and that you are going to read on, let me better explain myself...)
  She is Beautiful. Beautiful like a Star. I have never found supermodels beautiful. Or Movie Actresses, or people on TV, in magazines, etc. etc. etc. Even in life: I only found real beauty in the personality, and the physical form was ... "Bonus." Of second, or third or tenth importance. (Understand that I DO see beauty, in the strictly physical sense as well, but it only went with the beauty of the "Soul" or " Personality.") I have never been "Struck" by someone's appearance. -Until tonight. She - Was - Just - Gorgeous. I don't know why. She was not especially "sexy", or "chic", or refined. But the ... net impression, (I can't say how much her singing played a part in it; I didn't cover my ears, to see if she remained attractive.) -the net impression, was one of total, ravishing, dream inducing (or invading, or Both,) Beauty.
  I have at last understood how people can watch TV, and become infatuated with ... a face, only a face, of someone they have never met. Now I understand... But I don't know if I would have wanted this, had I been given a choice; I feel there is an inconsistency in me with this; I believe in absolute honesty, and love and passion only for the Inner qualities of a person. Yet here, from my own eyes, has come such enchantment, with a mere visage.
  It is a little bit the feeling of being brought low, (and wouldn't you know it: brought low by the charms of a woman. :-) I realise that it's considered quite normal, and that it really isn't being "low" at all. And I really am not taking this at all as seriously as it probably sounds. The feeling was completely gone within 15 minutes of the performance. But it was a shock and surprise to me, at the moment, to find myself so... blown over, by a performer, doing their work.
  OK, I think that's about enough for now, (2:30 AM ... Happy Birthday to me! I realy ought to save this file as something else, because there's just TOO much of it that Isn't "Review." -Oh Well!)