Rigoletto!

Jay was able to get tickets for himself, Lana, and I to see Verdi's Rigoletto at the Vancouver Opera for this evening's final performance. Sitting at our centre balcony seats, we had a great view of the drama unfolding before us on stage without necessitating the need for opera glasses.

Act one was played out with vibrancy and humour as Rigoletto stole centre stage with his tongue lashing of insults. Gilda also carried the play with finesse while professing her love for the student. Hearing the baritone and the soprano singing their lines brought about true and convincing emotions only the gifted and talented could deliver.

An interesting event took place during intermission in a special meeting room on the lower level. A banner inviting attendees both young and old, geeks and troglodytes, and everyone in between had the words "Twitter" and "FaceBook" on it and those inside were standing around busy texting, talking, and perhaps even vlogging on their new fangled iPhones and Blackberry's while loading up on the complementary assortments of deserts and drinks. Though I have been to a similar gathering in the past with my involvement with the local Macintosh User Group back in the day, this new generation of people with their absurd need for up-to-the-second updates and broadcasts of their and their cronies' happenings and whereabouts astounds me. Not to brand myself as a luddite, but seriously, this FaceBooky-Twittery thing is so silly.

Shockingly, I had recognised a familiar face in the crowd; not a friend, but the older brother of one. Interrupting his text entry and finger flicking on his iPhone, I introduced myself and made small talk before walking back to my seat for act two and three.

As we reached the final act on a sad note, where Rigoletto holds his dying daughter in his arms, the curtain closed and after a brief period of time, a standing ovation. It continued with cheers and whistling until every cast member had their proud moment in the lime light. Jay, Lana, and I were glowing with satisfaction after watching something spectacular as we poured out onto the streets of Vancouver. Singing to the tune of La Donna è mobile as we meandered our way back home was unavoidable.