Manon

Today I saw Manon at the Deutsche Staatsoper. Incidentally, yesterday, my €43 ticket placed me in the last row but near the center; today's €7 student was for a seat five rows from the stage.

In preparation, I purchased a black skirt, an almost nice khaki jacket, and shoes. I was the under-dressed, brightly-colored sweater wearing fool at the premier of The Clemency of Titus yesterday (shocking, I know), and I was determined not to let it happen again. Apparently, everyone wears b/w to premieres, but other shows do not have the same restrictions... lesson learned. Of course this evening, there was a much greater variety of colors and a much smaller variety of body types. There were at least four anorexic ballerinas in my row.

I can say that, without a doubt, Manon was the best ballet I have ever seen; this statement is more a reflection on the dancers than the guiding script. The ballet was a near perfect partner to the score. I truly enjoyed the first two acts even though action within the plot was motivated only by drinking and gambling. The third act was a bit confusing. We seem to appear suddenly in a penal colony, and the only justification I could think of at the time was that this ensured the dancers could wear less. The quality of the ballet itself made up for the misunderstanding, and after some research, I understand that the two were arrested and are reminiscing. Manon is a story of love and deceit and performed by the Staatsballett Berlin, a truly impressive tragedy-ballet.