Bacchus - The Big Gay Bon Vivant

On Valentine's day I received an offer from Playbill.com for two for one tickets to the Chicago premiere production of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. I had seen snipets on the Tony's years ago and knew that his vision of this piece was homo-erotic.

Well sign me and La Trix up!! We went this past Sunday.

We first feasted at India House on Grand. Truly marvelous! We were first given a big basket of Nan accompanied by an outstanding dipping sauce of cream and pureed carrots and tomatoes. We chose to go with the 'Indian Feast for Two'. It could have fed four! A silky-spicy lentil soup flavored with clove and curry followed by a huge platter of Tandori delights of chicken, lamb, and tuna, along with beautiful copper pots filled with more lentils, basamati rice, and tantalizing chicken tikka masala!! All washed down with King Fisher beer and Riesling. Totally full we headed to the show.

And what a show it was....

Let me begin by saying that I am just a tad familiar with the traditional story of Swan Lake and my companion was filled in by me so we both were in for a total surprise. Apologies in advance to Swan Lake lovers, Matthew Bourne and to Tchaikovsky!!

Our seats were excellent. Fifth row balcony. Dead center! Homo-erotism take us away!
Well it was more: "Satire/Commentary on the British Royal Family and Ballet take us away!!

The piece was two-thirds social commentary (which is just fine) and one third homo fun. The costumes, scenery, dancers, and dancing were outstanding. The choreography made you notice the men more than the ladies. Go figure!! The Swans were all men with shaved heads with a black streak down the center of their faces, feathered thighs, and beautiful bare chests glistening with sweat!

My thinking was that the Lead Bull Swan would rip the Prince's shirt off and have a wild pas de deux pec a'pec. Non! This is my idea of the conception in a nutshell:

A Prince in some monarchy is troubled by dreams of a sexy Bull Swan. His domineering nympho mother, The Queen, only cares that he wave correctly at the populace and attend state functions with a proper consort. The Prince falls for a common Good-Time Girl. The Queen won't hear of it. Naturally the Price and GTG go off to some trashy club after the ballet where the sullen Prince cannot find solace or affection. What is a Prince to do? Why go to a park where there happens to be a lake of Swans!! Princey is amazed! A gaggle of butch bull swans appear and dance (and dance) under the moonlight. (Whitch is reflected in their pectoral sweat!!) Suddenly the leader - The beefiest of the bull swans - puts his bestial macho spell on the Prince. They dance and engage in cygnet love(?). But the arrival of dawn dispels the lunar magic and all of the swans disappear. Is the Prince sullen still? Why no! Elated he kisses the nearest bag lady and does a bunch of leaps and tour jetes off of the stage as the curtain falls.

Well the curtain opens again just in time for the Royal Ball. For a Prince must have a wife! Princesses from all over Euro-Trash-Land arrive to vie for his hand. As they weren't male or half swan our Prince ain't interested. After a gay waltz and some Latin beats the Queen wows all on the dance floor. After that a Stranger appears dressed in all black leather/SM. (Love it!!) Why it is the self-same Lead Bull Swan in human form. Our Prince having to save face doesn't know what to do. Well the LBS does!! He dances with all the princesses , The Queen, the Prince's GTG, and finally when everyone wonders off the Prince. Well the Prince can't handle it, so the LBS goes after the GTG. Our Prince cannot handle this either and goes insane, gets a gun and whilst trying to kill the Queen's secretary and the LBS he kills his GTG. Well the press eats this up and The Queen sends our Prince to either be lobotomized or to a Sexual Re-Education camp. Totally drugged and out of it the Prince returns to his bedroom where his Mom will not sleep with him anymore. Here now reality blurs with dreams. In fever dream (my words) the bull swans sneak out from underneath the Prince's bed and, yes, dance some more. Princey awakes confounded. Just then from behind the bed post his Bull Swan lover appears!! All is forgiven and a the pas de deux I have been waiting for all night finally begins. But Oh, no!!! The other Swans cannot have a human in their gaggle. So, the ballet ends with all the Swans ganging up on the couple ( and not the way I wanted them to!!) and peck and snarl and trample them to Death!! Fear not. Our Prince and sexy Lead Bull Swan are re-united in Dreamland/Heaven. While in reality The Queen cradles her dead son and breaks down on the final crashing chords.

I watched this finale my mouth a gape. I turned to La Trix and we began to laugh in between 'bravos'!! One at the bold and strange concept and two at the thought if Pan came along. Pan would have HATED it!! We also opined that the moral was don't fall in love with a Swan, or don't be gay. Laughing into the moonless and swanless night we went home.

I have been offered and accepted the following roles!!!

The first: The role of Felice, the Governor of Armenia in the up coming concert production of Donizetti's Poliuto. Father's Day weekend 2006

The second: The role of Adolf Hitler in the up coming benefit for a friend of mine. They want to do the title number of "Springtime for You know who!" I cannot wait. A big, phat, gay Hitler. Tentatively planned for May 7, 2006.

After these performances I'll have to whisk La Trix and me on a Summer cruise!!

My voice teacher and his lovely wife gave a party for his studio and members of their Opera Company.

After being treated to the following we all sang the pieces we are currently working on and then after getting really ....lubricated we all sang scenes and duets from Operas we always wanted to perform. As my Mom would say: "Dare to dream!" Well even she thought it was really cool!!

Before the musicale we feasted on:
Champagne, wines of Red and White, vanilla liqueur chasers, Cosmos, Brie baked in crescent roles and raspberry jam, smoked salmon, pates, cornichons, dips of creamed cheese with mustards, jams, and cocktail sauce, dates wrapped in bacon, spiced sausage and cheese melted over rye toasts, an elaborate cheese tray featuring more bries, Camembert, and Stilton (My favorite blue cheese!), flourless chocolate cake with real whipped cream and raspberry sauce, and then Brandy Ice.

After we all were stuffed like the gluttonous song birds we are* we started to sing.
My voice teacher began with an impressive aria from Verdi's Macbeth. I then sang from Fedora and Manon. I was applauded and it felt really good!! Other highlights included the final scene from Carmen and the act I duet from La Traviata and select arias from Manon Lescaut, Mefistofele, I pagliacci, La Gioconda and The Abduction from the Seralgio.

I did not get home until 2 AM when shortly there after I had one bitch of a hangover. It was SO worth it!!

*Please see the film "Amadeus"!!

Pan and I took in last Wednesday, 2/15, a truly lyrical and visually stirring production of Verdi's 'Rigoletto' given by Lyric Opera of Chicago.

It tells the tale of a middle aged hunch-backed court Jester, employed by the overly licentious Duke of Mantua, who is overly protective of his only daughter, Gilda. Poor Rigoletto gets a curse on him, his daughter kidnapped and raped, and his assassination attempted cruelly foiled by the local hired murderer and his slutty sister/lover! (Incest at the Opera? Oh, yes!!)

And what does he have to say at all this??? "Ah...The CURSE!!" Or..."Ah La Maledizione!!" As the curtain comes tumbling down along with Verdi's crashing thunderous chords!!

This opera I have been familiar with since 1992, but this is the first chance I have ever seen it live. I was not disappointed nor was I ecstatic, but I was very happy and moved.

The director kept the piece in the renaissance of Italy while the designers looked to Titan for inspiration color wise. Just gorgeous!! Pastels of blue, gold, and apricot. Vivid reds, burgundies, and blacks. The Ducal Palace had a Dome that revolved as the scenes changed. We suddenly went from splendor to Spartan in seconds. I was not ecstatic as the singing was just right. Nobody sang their guts out as this opera was meant for blood and thunder singing. But that is the plight of the singer...Do I sing at 110% or 95% to sing another five performances. It is a challenge. So I commend the singers for singing elegantly and beautifully and sweetly. But I would have preferred over the top!! Oh..I must also commend the singers for their refined and strong acting abilities. I really felt sorry for old Rigoletto. Pan thought him an overprotective idiot.

Que sera, sera!!

In the coming weeks Der Rosenkavalier and Orfeo ed Euridice!! Then five more months until next season.

Hello, Dear Readers!!

It really has been too long. Work and living with a dedicated writer does keep one away from the computer.

Where to begin...

Last Friday was awful as I had to stay late from work and then wait for the Purple line. As every person who takes that line knows for every three Brown lines there is one Purple line. After finally getting on I noticed a couple engaging in extreme PDA. Don't get me wrong I am a hugely affectionate man and moderate PDA doesn't bother me at all, but this couple was too much!

To begin with they were just plain ugly. (Harsh, I know, but my readers demand the truth!!) He looked like a dumb mouse with a gaping mouth and pock marks on his cheeks where whiskers could have spouted and she, well, she had the face of a toad. And a horny one at that! As she leaned up against him in their seat her expression was one of ecstasy. I inferred that her mousy boy toy must have been 'sitting on it'! As they both got up to get off the train they made a point to stand right in the middle of the train, blocking everyone's way. He being taller was , and I kid you all not, arranging his member against her ample posterior and started to gently hump her as they waited. I was seated facing this spectacle and couldn't turn away as one: I am a pervert and two: I love audacity! I hope they had a good night. I finally alighted at Davis and met Pan at the Dixie Kitchen for some excellent gumbo.

Saturday I slept in and had a toothsome farewell lunch with My Father. He is off for three weeks in sunny Florida. You know...The home of Lil'Chocolate Gators!!! We went to The Pineyard in Evanston. For about $7 you get an entree, soup, spring roll, and choice of rice. It is some of the best Chinese food I've ever had. All is fresh and vibrantly spiced. I indulged in their hot and sour soup along with the spicy pork and green beans. Sated I then had a surprisingly good voice lesson. I thought my teacher was totally gonna hate me but he totally loved me! We are working on moving from the baritone realm into the exciting new range of the lyric tenor. It is thought that I may, indeed, sing a lot of Puccini! Daisy should be delighted!! I need to work on finding a lot more space to produce more secure, free, ringing, and might I add, more dulcet tones. Yes, Dear Readers, Bacchus and Narcissus are sometimes one and the same!!

Pan and I then attended a lovely party complete with a fabulous spread! Fondue, cookies, shrimp in a mustard-scallion-cilantro-chile sauce, and a new wine we never tried, a Pinotage! Smoky, jammy, and spicy and RED! Marvelous!! We also made a lot of new and fun acquaintances!! I stayed up late as one: I was spooked by a FIRE down the street and two: the musical version of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" was on TCM. I sat their glued at this bizarre yet lyrical film. It stars Peter O'Toole and the dynamic Miss Petula Clark. A surprisingly good actress, if I do say so! I was still wired so I watched the beginning of "The Fellowship of the Ring". If ever I have the chance I would love to be cast as Saruman. He has a long staff.

Sunday was spent with my hubby in Andersonville brunching at Svea's and window shopping. Although, I "had" to buy some Pinotage (Rhymes with Lage!). I then made my first ever lasagne. It was a good first effort. It featured a sauce infused with cabernet and garlic, Italian sausage, and a blend of mozzarella, Romano, Parmesan, and ricotta cheeses. That and a salad of mixed greens and a glass of Pinotage made a yummy finale to a hodge podge weekend!!

I have to get back on the Buffy Train. It will not be a long wait like the Purple line.

Till then ma chers!!

Ok...Enough pity party!!

My latest ventures into BUFFETRE dealt with a lot of yummy male sexiness. That's right - Xanderkins and Angel!! (Ange purs, ange radieux!!!)

Before I get to the men our sweet bad ass Buffy learned the hard lesson of sacrifice when her loner-Emily Dickinson loving-Beau, Owen, left her as he wanted the slayer side and she wanted him to have the player side. (Sorry, I just had too!!)

Yummy Xander then ran a foul of an obnoxious clique who just happened to be possessed by Hyenas. A pig eaten raw and a Principal ... mauled. At first I thought this episode made the previous Preying Mantis episode look like the series finale of Mary Tyler Moore, but then it got very creepy! We also found out about Willow's tender feelings for Mr. Xander. Hopefully Willow will check out an Indigo Girl's CD soon!!!

We then got to find out about the smoldering Angel! Cursed with his Human soul he now dines on bags of sanguine fluid stolen from the local blood bank and watches out for Buffy at the Bronze. Poor Buffy now knows his secret, but that Vampire tart who created Angel is now dust!
Can't wait to find out more and see more of Angel's pecs and pretty-pink nipples!!!

Well, Dear Readers my fabulous sister Lage and my equally fab husband Pan threw me a surprise 30th bash!!! It was PERFECT!! All my friends and close family members were there at my Dad's house. We all dined on Dad's justly famous teriyaki chicken wings, CLAMATO(!!), BBQ Crunchers, pizza, and a fabulous salad made by Mary Anne! Not to mention yummy hard lemonade, lemon squares, beer, and wine! My Mother made a lovely bag of ICE! (inside joke!)

M'Mum gifted me with two adorable finger puppets - One a Mermaid and one a boy faerie with brown hair (HMMM!). Mummsy also gave me a picture of Moi at age 3 wearing a SOX shirt!! Oh, also an LP copy of Fidleh!! Oy veh, what a day I had today!!

I must say I was SHOCKED!! Lage and Pan did a most excellent job of fooling me. I was told to be dressed up and ready to go by 7 pm on 2/4/06. I totally thought Lage was taking me to see a local production of "Oliver"! What I got was much better!! Anyway Lage picked me up and told me we'd have to go put a printer into Dad's car before hand and that my reward would be ONE teriyaki chicken wing - For the rest were going to Dad's Super Bowl party. With a gluttonous gleam in my eye I sallied forth to the kitchen. Wouldn't you know all was dark. So I switched on the light and the whole dining room exploded with "SURPRISE!!!! Blue and gold Streamers. A sumptuous buffet. My parents and Pan beaming. My sister laughing. Mary Anne looking radiant while all my friends smiled on!! This is probably my imagination but all my lady friends wore outfits that totally showed off their ample bosoms!! Yes. I am a boob man!! I didn't get home until 1:30. Friends: My cup runneth over. Seriously!! THANKS EVERYONE!!

My place of employment some time last year dangled a pretty sizable carrot in front of us donkey drones. Today they took it away in a very callous email. I BASTARDI!!!

Au revoir paying off credit card.

Au revoir new couch, voice clinic, and worst cut - Au revoir Hawai'i!!

Ah, well...Tomorrow is another day, right Scarlett?

My wonderful husband, with this news, has treated me to sushi and later on we'll renew our OPERA subscription!!!! Turandot. Salome. Die Fledermaus - Here we come!!

Hello, Dear Readers!

My day job consists of dealing with unusually high levels of stupidity and lack of common sense. It also deals with clients calling you to yell at you for the shortcomings of your company.

Readers: This sucks beyond measure!!!

I shant bore you with details. Instead I shall recount things that have given me pleasure!!

My husband, Pan, gifted me with a recording of SHOW BOAT from 1936 with Hattie McDaniel and Irene Dunne and the incomparable Paul Robeson! Can't help lovin' that Pan of mine!!

I watched two fun BUFFETRE episodes involving a Mother, who was a witch, who changed places with her daughter to regain her high school glory days and another in which poor Xanderkins was almost fucked and eaten by a humanoid-preying mantis!! Que Lastima!! I highly enjoyed them. BUFFY is just the best!! Oh, how I love SMG as well!!! I wish she'd do a Broadway show so that I could experience her live! Perhaps in a score of years she'll do a production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" with her hunky husband...Ok, maybe not!!!

I feel healthier! My love handles feel shorter and walking up all the stairs at work and the "L" aren't so bad. Plus I feel more energized. The 45 steps up to our flat are still a little daunting!

UPCOMING: A review of Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Rigoletto!!!

Yes. I am now Thirty. And I must say - I feel GREAT! My tumultuous twenties are now behind me and I now can concentrate on my thirties being nothing but (What, Bill and Ted?) most triumphant!

My life, so far, has been wonderful, but the title of this entry refers to an old co-worker of my Mother who had a Birthday banner made with those very words.

I was not so bold!

I did celebrate with my favorite foods and people and that is magnificent!

The celebrations statred the day before with my Father making a lasangne Garfiled would cry for. It was complimented with tantalizing mixed green salad and a Confeti Cake finale.
I received a lot of cool GCs for Amazon, a bamboo sushi serving set, and some charming homemade coupons from my Aunty. The coupons were for a lot of rides and favors. I will totally cash in!!

The actual Day - 01-25-2006 was gorgeous. The sun was out and I was only fifteen minutes late for work. My dear friend and co-worker made DELICIOUS cookies made of cinnamon and oats and I only had regular amount of work to do. I received a call from m'Mum who surprised me with two blue roses and a card that made me cry. I also got a ton of well wishes via email and phone calls. Then the real gastronomic treat came!!!

I had seen this place on television and I knew I HAD to go there some day. Well you only turn thirty once!! We went to Roy's! A Hawaiian fusion restaurant specializing in seafood. Yes, Mr. Oscar Hammerstein, some people do long for another Island. And this was truly it. Long curtains of deep burgundy with gold designs outlined the huge restaurant with beautiful wooden tables with crisp white table cloths. The walls were bedecked with huge paintings of tropical flowers giving way to the open kitchen. Myself, Pan, and two close friends began with cocktails. I stuck to the Mai Tais. They were dangerously too yummy. Yes. Yummy. We then went on to share delectable slices of seared, yet still raw slices of ahi tuna with a soy mustard sauce, lobster pot stickers and dim sum (Oh heavenly crustacean!!), and braised Mongolian ribs which defy description. But I will try. They fell off of the bone, were marinated yet had a dry rub on them as well with a savory smoky taste. Clearly the best of the appetizers. For my entree I had the misoyaki Butter fish. It was luscious! The fish melted in my mouth while my palate sang with the flavors of miso and soy and sesame. It was served on a bed of Hawaiian black beans and baby bok choy. Pan had a HUGE hunk of ahi tuna steak whilst my friends had a rib eye and grouper. All remakable and memorable. Dessert then conquered us...Homemade pineapple upside down cake, cold and hot chocolate souffles, and then the creme brulee avec ripe black berries.
All of the above was washed down with a fabulous shiraz and then kona coffee to follow.

Get thee to Roy's!!!

The following Friday was spent celebrating with Lage, Pan, Mummsy, and Mummsy's best friend, Mary Anne. We went to my favorite Japanese restaurant ever - Matsuya!!
I dined on the most luscious sashimi and a steak of Hamachi grilled with the best teriyaki sauce in town. On Saturday my dearest friends; La Trix and Bele and Bele's daughter Ariel came over for pizza and a movie and a long over due visit. Ariel just happens to be the sweetest toddler ever while La Trix and Bele remain super sassy and sexy!!

Not a bad birthday at all. It was truly just what I wanted! A grand and fabulous and drawn out celebration. Thanks everyone!!

Please know, Dear Readers, that I know the following:

I don't have to ride the "L" train.
I could get a drivers license.

However, Dear Readers, these are the facts:

I live one eighth of a block from an "L" stop. (Yet I still am SO late for work! Bad Bacchus!!)
I have no depth perception in a vehicle and am firmly of the belief and fear that I will kill those driving with me. So, hence, I must deal with the "L".

These are the usual happenings of the "L" that drive me mad:

It takes 20 minutes to get through three popular stops. Especially when Baseball Season is in full swing increasing it to 45 minutes.

Loud talkers during the morning commute. People! We all just woke up, refrain from screaming about the current status of your significant others, bosses, etc.

Non functioning escalators.

Here is the latest offence:

I was riding home with a totally cool Gal Pal of mine from work. We sat in the front row of seats facing the seats that are sideways next to the doors. Well some character sat in the side seat facing us who forgot that the Gold Rush was over and that soap did exist. He happened to be garbed in a checkered shirt and jeans with a pony tail but his countenance suggested he had lived through myriad hard Winters and far too few happy Springs. He said nothing but the foulest odor came from him as did an endless flow of clear snot from his left nostril that he cared not to plug up. Thankfully he left after a couple of stops so that me and my GP could breathe again!!

I do not expect a first class ride, People, but I do expect to be able to BREATHE!!

Mon Dieu!

My BUFFY journey has begun! That wonderfully bitchy line above was delivered by the delicious Cordelia in Part II of the BUFFY pilot. This beginning of a TV Milestone was brilliant in that the actors had their characterizations down and that it was sufficiently suspenseful and sarcastic. Plus, it had the best thing about BUFFY - It always leaves you wanting more! Kudos Mr. Joss.

SMG's outfits alone are worth watching for and Xander is SO cute!! Can I be any gayer!?!

I guess critique was just the wrong word. I really meant to chronicle my viewings. If I did have any criticism it would be in the DVD transfer. The Pilot wasn't as crisp as "Once More With Feeling". But then again DVD was in its mere infancy when the Pilot aired and BUFFY will only get better. And better, and better and better!

BRAVA BUFFETRE!!!

Hello, Everyone!!

Call me Bacchus. And I do fancy m'self as a big gay Bon Vivant!!

I've been meaning to do this for a long time. I mean I have so much fun reading other Blogs, especially one about a certain serpent, that I really wanted my own.

What prompted this was I just turned 30. I am at a crucial turning point vocally - More about that later! And I bought the ENTIRE series of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!!

This blog will serve to relieve my CTA rage, critique all the "Buffy"(or as I love to call her, Buffetre!) episodes I watch, discuss all the Opera, Theatre, TV, and Film I take in, and talk about my life with my wonderful husband, Pan.