Journal 101 - Operetti and the After Party

Journal 101

Sunday - 12-5-10

Today was another day of rest again, until about 4, when Elena called to invite me to the Operetti Theatre for another show!!

We went to see a show called, "Caesar and Cleopatra." To be honest, I didn't like the show all that much, but the set... My God, the set was gorgeous!!!

After the show, there was some kind of Mini-Concert, with some very famous (older) Russian artists. I think it was tied to the fact that some kind of arts festival had just wrapped up in Moscow. Unfortunately, as they were all new people to me, I don't really remember any of the performers' names... Still, I took some video -- I was thrilled to hear some of my favorite, older Russian songs!! (They are War-Time (WWII) songs.)

It was so powerful, to be able to sit there, as those songs were being sung, and to witness so many people becoming so nostalgic, singing along, thinking of their own stories. There really aren't any words for that kind of experience.

******

As it turned out, there was an after party of sorts for the famous artists/theatre people. Elena's friend wanted us to go to it, and while Elena protested, he dragged us along!! It wasn't bad -- it really essentially consisted of people toasting one of the main artists. The food was good! He he he.

The best part of going, though? Getting to stand on the stage, and look out at the theatre, from the artists' perspective. It was just... Amazing. =^___^=

Also, thanks to the randomness of Life, we heard that there was an American stage director from NYC there. He made a toast, in English, and then Elena's friend decided that I should meet him, simply on the basis of, "You're both Americans!!"

I protested, mostly just on the grounds of people might not appreciate having strangers forced on them, simply because they come from the same country or speak the same language -- but luckily, that was not the case, as said director immediately stopped upon hearing me say hello, and introduce myself. ["Hi -- my name is ______; my friend who works here wanted me to say hi, because I'm from America too….]

"It's so nice to hear English again!" He said, happily!

We chatted for a bit, promised to keep in touch, and then Elena and I left.

**********

On my way home, I met an... Well, an eccentric man is probably the best way to put it. He was older (later 60s?), and his wife was with him. I wound up on their path for a bit, and he was asking me all sorts of questions! Some, so personal, that only the farcical nature of the situation kept me from being offended.

Imagine -- you are walking along with this older couple, and you are a younger girl, and the man asks you if you are married. When you say no, he says, "Well, you can be my wife!!"

Knowing that *his wife* is *walking* with you, you respond, "That's just not possible!" just as the wife is joking, "You already have me!"

Then, the wife looks at her husband and says, "She needs a young man! Or, an oligarch {if he's going to be old} -- someone to give her money!!" --The husband says something that you don't understand, but you know it's some kind of response to the money issue. -- "Hah!!" The wife laughs in a jokingly scornful manner. "Are *YOU* going to buy her a fur coat?! Give her money to spend?! Hire a limousine to take her around in?! Really???"

-- And goodness, that was only part of the spectacle!!! (The rest included things like him feeling up my waist and the top of my bum at one point, saying, 'What a nice figure!' and later, asking if I had children -- then, *if I had *tried* to have any. He followed with some, originally in French, lyric, that said something along the lines of having a bunch of different men, all throughout the day.)

*laughs* Oh, what a night!! Crazy.