Madama Butterfly

On the eve of my departure for my next job, I finally sit down and write about my last job, Madama Butterfly. All around, it was a great production.... superb cast, simple but beautiful set and gorgeous, mostly uncomplicated costumes.

The set was unique as in it was raked enough to remind us all that we did indeed have muscles in our legs that we did not use normally. By the time we were well into onstage rehearsals, I had forgotten how extreme the rake was since we'd all gotten our 'rake legs'. The rake grew more and more extreme as it got closer to the curtain. In fact, the lowest platform actually tipped down into the pit. Simple, yet dramatic. Very suiting to the piece, I think.

Here's the view from the balcony, which gives a better idea of the rake:



What you can't see is the 26 stairs leading up to the rear of the mountain. Let's just say that I really got my exercise during tech week.

What was really fun was opening night. Butterfly opened the season, so there was a gala of sorts. We (staff) wore corsages (yes, a la prom)



and ate dessert sushi - which bears an uncanny resemblance to real sushi except its made of fruit, coconut and who knows what else, but it was TASTY!





And lastly, our lobby was adorned with decorated parasols:





Brava tutti! I will certainly miss everyone and look forward to our next show together... wherever it may be.



Still to come: Driving Adventures

Sushi

Sometimes, my mom can't believe I eat sushi. Sometimes, I agree with her. Admittedly, I'm often picky about what I eat or drink. And sometimes the idea of sushi kind of skeeves me out, but I have learnt it's an acquired taste. I'll admit, I'm far from adventurous. I'll stick to the more 'ordinary' versus the 'exotic' rolls.

In St. Louis, I have a favorite sushi place, courtesy of LA, who craved this place so much one night, that she drove us to the Central West End in a snowstorm where it ended up snowing an inch per hour. Yes, it was THAT good. They have this philly roll that they flash fry and call it 'deep fried sushi'. It is SO good. If you're ever in St. Louis, go to Drunken Fish.

But I don't live in St. Louis now, I live in Houston. So I've found a new favorite:



The food is good, the restaurant is beautiful and the parking lot is hazardous. No, seriously. It has the worst parking lot I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. It has potholes as big as my car and fairly deep. And the parking lot isn't very big either. And as I found out while at the Hobbit Cafe (they share this travesty of a parking lot), the surrounding streets don't take to random parkers very well. Beware of parking cops.

But as much as I'm trashing the parking lot, don't that deter you. Just don't go rip-roaring off Richmond into the parking lot. Or you'll regret it.

But I promise you, the sushi is worth it.

However, it is worth traversing that minefield for the food within.