Tosca was an amazing experience with some wonderful highlights. I must say, simply stating that I was going to the opera made me feel like a high class New Yorker, but being able to talk about and make comments on the opera Tosca was even better.

The most memorable aspect was the main character Floria. Her voice was absolutely beautiful and amazing, every time she sang I was left in awe. She clearly outshone every character in the Opera with her voice and range. I couldn’t help but think of her extraordinary lung capacity, during an intermission some tried to sing Opera, and one can tell it’s difficulty by giving it a quick try. The orchestra playing music for Tosca was also extremely memorable. I’ve never had much musical skill, so hearing such professionals play so beautifully was a real treat.

Sondra Radvanovsky (Floria) after killing John Del Carlo (Scarpia)

What made Tosca the most interesting were the connections I could make from my prior experiences. Over the summer I visited Rome and Vatican City: two big areas for churches. They were simply everywhere, just walking in unknown areas would likely garner a visit to one, so after reading the playbill and realizing that the first act was in the Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle I decided to look it up. Honestly, the Church looks like every church in Rome (they all have a distinct lavish look about them) so I very well could have been there, perhaps I haven’t, but I did enjoy making the connection. The other connection I made was that of a video game: Assassins Creed II. It may sound odd, but a major part is set in Rome during the 15^th century – yes the Opera’s setting is during the 19^th century, but there were still some connections. In the video game, the main character’s family get caught up in political upheaval and he must avenge his father’s death against the powerfully corrupt religious men in the country. The plot does have it’s connections, but I was instantaneously reminded in the last act with the guard’s circular movements and I later realized that in the second act, the women who dressed provocatively looked extremely similar to the prostitutes in the video game.

Inside of the Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle

Despite this ability for the Opera to resonate with me, I did have some problems with it – none of which have anything against the performers and the orchestra, for they were all absolutely fantastic. However, my problems lay with the actual plot. After hearing a synopsis of the play, namely that all the characters die, I expected something that mirrored my favorite Shakespearian play, Hamlet. Hamlet’s ending is grand and exciting with plot twists and action where by the end, everyone dies due to some turn of events likened to emotions of in numeral levels. However with Tosca I did not find this to be true. I felt as though the building climax was simplistic and easy to determine. Even without knowing her lover would die could I easily suspect it. Floria did kill Scarpia after all – did she not think others would find out? I thought her acceptance that a mock execution would occur was extremely naïve and inaccurate. Despite this one problem, I thought the Opera was a whole was wonderful, and going back to the Met Operahouse will certainly be something I do in the near future.

The Complexions performance at the Joyce Theater was quite an experience. Going to the movie theater, baseball games, and other large events, I would think front row, or very close to front row seats are awesome. They make us feel top notch, first class, and are supposed to be good thing. However, front seats at the Joyce Theater was not a good idea at all. It was nerve-racking, because the dancers were sweating and breathing, and I felt like I was too close to them. Personally, I like to keep a distance from people, and I felt like I was making them even more nervous and adding to their tension by being all up in their faces. It got to the point where I could see the sweat on their foreheads dancing off into the air, and I was afraid some of it would land on me. Therefore, no more front seats ever again for me, especially at a dance performance.

The professor said we would be witnessing a ballet performance, so I was expecting something like the Nutcracker. For some reason, I also thought the performance would be boring, because I don’t really pay attention to watching dance, unless I’m watching myself dance. However, the performance blew me away, and I loved the way the performers kept their energy levels up the whole time, especially towards the end. It was interesting to see their moods change throughout all three parts of the performance. I had questions in my head that were left unanswered, and I believe that’s something awesome about the performance: the curiosity kept me glued to my seat. Is there something I’m supposed to understand from the performance? Why is she making those faces? How come he’s moving so slowly? There were moments when I thought I would understand something by the end of a segment of the performance, and there were moments when I was feeling the tensions of the performers, based on their body language.

I absolutely enjoyed the third part of the performance, and I definitely started clapping to the beat. The performance was exceptional, and the dancers were fantastic. Their energy kept me awake and going as well, because if they started losing it, I would have fell asleep in that seat, considering how late it was and exhausted I was that night. That would have been a disaster for somebody sitting in front row seats!

On October 23, 2013, I saw my first theater performance ever, and it was in Manhattan too, at The Public Theater! Fun Home was just phenomenal, although it was a little bit tweaked from the book. And I felt happy that I had the opportunity to actually read the book before seeing the play, versus the other people in the audience who seem to have been just going along with what they saw. Yeah, of course I felt bad for Alison and her father and just the way her relationship with her parents was when I read the book, but I didn’t feel bad enough to start crying like I did at the play. Its like everything came to life all of a sudden. I got to understand what the fights between her parents looked like, I got see how Alison grew up throughout the stages in her life, and to see the character grow and blossom in action on the stage is way better than trying to imagine the cartoons moving in the book.

Laugh out loud! The actors on stage looked so much like Alison’s drawings, and those kids: they had so much energy! The only character that looked out of place was Joan, because she didn’t look like the Joan I read about in the book. And then Bruce: when does he take Alison for a ride in the car? I felt like he was nicer to Alison and jollier in the play. One aspect of the play that was really good was the music, and it was so powerful to hear the dramatic music mix with the words of the actors, that I just had to drop a tear or two. Towards the end, I had an outburst of tears, because I saw all three versions of Alison, and her stages of growth. I thought it was strange of Alison (41-year-old) at first to be standing around in the background, but then I realized what the purpose was. I mean, I read the book, so I might know what’s going on in the story, but I guess her job was to narrate the story with every scene and “caption.” I pray to God Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home goes to Broadway. The enthusiasm, the words, the music, the feelings fed to the audience, they all come together to make this play something really special. I absolutely loved it from the bottom of my heart, and hope I get to see it again so I can show others the wonderful experience I had.