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Tomorrow, I have tickets for the Ballet at the Mariinsky Theater. Supposedly, what with St. Petersburg being the culture capital of Russia, the Mariinsky is the best theater in the country. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of ballet, so I'm afraid its merits might be lost on me. The show I'm set to see is Don Quixote. With a running time of 3 hours, I'm preparing for a marathon.
This weekend I've been really sick, and I don't think I'll be that much better by tomorrow evening. I've spent the past two days alternating between bed and desk, only venturing outside my room once, to buy groceries. I'm taking tons of Emer'gen-C. Normally, this stuff serves me well, and people over here call it the crazy Californian medicine. Just take a look at those nutrition facts - 1666% of daily Vitamin C. Forget these wimpy looking baby tangerines I've been eating, my C is covered, for the next several months.
On my weekend of lying in bed watching TV (a form of studying, I swear), I had a chance to see some ballet, only further confirming what I have always thought. It's basicly a bunch of people, in tights, prancing about the stage, occasionally turning and/or jumping. Yes, I'm sure it's hard to do. Yes, sometimes it looks cool and they seem to hang in the air (but so do basketball players). No, I'm not afraid to stare at men in tight clothes, it's just not one of my preferred ways to spend time. Couple that with the fact that most of the women are way to skinny to be attractive, and I can think of lots of better ways to spend a couple of hours.
For instance, I love figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics. Heck, even ballroom dancing is fun to watch. These are also activities that are strenuous and show off the grace and skill of the human body, but are far more interesting for some unidentifable reason. Unfortunately, the Mariinsky is not equiped for skating or gymnastics. And ballet, opera, and theater have pushed ballroom off the schedule. I sincerely hope that the ballet tomorrow does not meet my expectations of boredom, I want to enjoy it. Since it is a Spanish story, I'm hoping it will have a little more latin flavor, ie. butt shaking and extravagant clothes. However, seeing that it was choreographed in 1902, I'm not too hopeful. I'll give you my review after the show.
Posted by Owen at February 15, 2004 06:35 PM | TrackBackDon Quixote? Umm...don't look for many women at all, let alone "butt shaking" latinas. Although, I love Don Quixote, and even the broadway adaptation Man of La Mancha is very in-offensive (to use a borrowed phrase).
I don't know about a ballet, though. My only experience with Don Quixote has been opera and broadway musical, so I have no clue what a ballet would be like.
Posted by: Jason at February 15, 2004 10:42 PMYeah, I personally never understood ballet either. My suggestion is, go to the Hermitage and the Petergoff (sp?), instead. These are really worth seeing.
Posted by: Bugmaster at February 16, 2004 06:08 AMDon Quixote is a good choice.
The music is inspirational and the chorography, at least the 2 times I have seen it, is interesting.
I hope that this rendition will be worth your time even if you will never opt out to see it again.
Enjoy
Oddly enough, even though in Russian it is Petergoff, with a "g," when we say it in English it becomes an "h." And no "the." I haven't been there yet, but I have been to Pushkin. I hear that I should wait for summer for Peterhoff, when the fountains are on. And I have to go back to Pushkin. When I was there before the palace was closed, so I couldn't go inside.
Posted by: Owen at February 16, 2004 02:13 PMI reallly like your characterization of my people. Excuse me, I have to go put on a hat with fake fruit on it and shake my butt a lot.
Andrea :)
Posted by: Andrea at February 17, 2004 07:08 AMI've seen enough Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias videos to know all about latin culture. But plastic fruit, I mean, who does that? Is that some strange Long Beach thing? I was thinking more along the lines of Flamenco dancing.
On a sidenote, why is it that you get to claim all of "latin culture." As if Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, etc... all shared a common culture. As far as I can tell, Spain has the best singers, Mexico the best soaps, Argentina the most Europeans, Brazil the craziest sex fiends, and Cuba the oldest cars, just to name a few differences. :P
Posted by: Owen at February 17, 2004 11:59 AMHow about: Spain has the best speakers, Puerto Rico the worst speakers, Columbians have the most "jive talk," and Mexicans have the most slang.
Posted by: Jason at February 17, 2004 05:25 PMI hope you are feeling better Owen and that the meds and junk package have arrived by now. If not I certainly overpaid and some mailperson is enjoying all your goodies. Both packages were sent to the address you gave us. I was asked if it was a residence or business. I said residence, hope that was right. I love and miss you so. Are you coming home anytime soon?? Gavin is alright,working hard and now considering Embry Riddle as another alternative to Annapolis. It has a Marine ROTC program and is very well respected in the field of aviation.
I am so glad your friends are staying in touch with you and vise versa. Friends are so important - I know I don't have any cause I didn't take the time to work at it. Always do that cause in the end it is family and friends!!