Categories: just-life
Date: 27 January 2007 18:14:11
Having spent the afternoon in the garden "pruning" one of the trees I have come back in to discover that there's nothing on tv (not really a surprise). The choice seems to be between 'You've Been Framed' and a ballet over on BBC2.
I'm not sure what the ballet is, or how long it's been going on.... it seems to be set in a court, we have couples coming out and dancing before a King and Queen, oh, and here's Little Red Riding Hood..... on tippy-toes.... and that's a very bouncy wolf (seriously!!!). And now the more traditional girl in tutu and guy in waistcoat and in leggings that show far too much!!! She just seems to be standing on tippy-toe while he spins her around.....
Now, while I am sure that ballet does have it's place among High Art (I know which I'd rather be getting money between the ballet and anything that might appear in the Tate Modern) it can be a little bit..... insular. If you don't know what's happening you'll never work it out. You mightn't understand even if you do (this is apparently Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky).
I am on the other hand a big fan of opera. For while these too are stories with far reaching plots they have the slight advantage of having the people able to tell you (in song) what on earth is going on. While "Oh I'm dying, I am dying, he has stabbed me, I am dying....(all in a different language mind you)" might go on for several minutes least you know that the guy (or gal) has been stabbed and they are dying.
This girl now who has just spent the last couple of minutes pirouetting round the stage was really impressive, she certainly deserved her applause..... but why was she doing it....??? What this'll all turn out to be is the celebrations for the birth of the princess (Sleeping Beauty) and the evil fairly godmother will burst in any moment to give her wish (curse)...... though possibly not as there are only a five minutes left.... who knows!!