UPDATED: GASP! I'm An Opera Blogger...Again?

Friday, 05 February 2010 18:46 | Written by Byron

UPDATE 10:55 PM CURTAIN: The cast is taking their final bows. I am spent. I mean, SPENT. I can't imagine how the people in the show feel. I mean, they just belted their lungs out for three hours--WITHOUT MICROPHONES. I mean, come on, opera isn't for pussies. But Cosi Fan Tutti (which sort of sounds it shoud have some sort of ice cream served on top of it) is definitely for those of opera-phobes out there who think they don't have what it takes to see a show with famous-ish people who sing in a foreign language (they have English words at the top of the stage). This show not only dazzles and delights but it will also have you laughing your ass off, that is if your butt doesn't fall asleep first.

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UPDATE 9:10 PM INTERMISSION: Mozart's or as I like to call him, Wolfie, music is simply gorgeous. And on a very simple set like this it really standouts. The whole thing is very different from the Glass opera I last blogged at. Although it was written in 1790 it feels much more like a screwball comedy of the 1930's with just a dash of The Jerry Springer Show added in to make it feel contemporary. The crowd is eating it up. That's the weird thing about opera. I always thought it was for old folks, but the young people in the audience seem to be having as much as fun as the gray-haired set. The story for those who don't know--and before this show I didn't--is about two Lucy and Ethel types being chased by a couple of dudes who look like they spent too much time watching Conan O'Brien and The Marx Bros. The set is toooo beautiful. And whenever any color appears on the stage it literally pops. And the first hour and half went by much quicker than I imagined. i really enjoy Ryan MacPherson. It's nice to see him alive. The last show I saw him was Orphee were he played a ghost. Before that he played another ghost in Turn of the Screw. I was shocked a group of women from San Francisco flew up here just to see Christine Brandis. "You know she's incredibly famous in the opera world," said one woman. "And she is gay!" I really like her work too I said to her stalker/fan. Kudos to hometown gal Angela Niederloh who is literally kicking ass a faux slut. Sidenote: I wish they weren't tearing down the set. It would make a great gay bar. Speaking of cute guys, that Chris Mattaliano is turning into one silver fox. Watch out, Anderson Cooper, the Opera's General Director (who is next directing The Barber of Selville) is gunning for your title.

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7 pm, PRE-SHOW: "It's a gynological exam," screams Courtenay Hameister. She's just stepped onto the completely mirrored stage—in a dress mind you—of the opera I am live blogging tonight. It's called Cosi Fan Tutti. And, like any good blogger, I know absolutely absolutely nothing about the show that Portland Opera is presenting tonight. Other than, I just found out, it's a THREE HOUR show. I mean, really? Gilligan and the gang only went on a three hour tour and we all know how that turned out. Oh, well. My bad for not doing my "research" which would've probably involved checking out barihunks.com. I also just found out that they are dumping CFT's amazing moving mirrored set once the show is over..like actually dumping it and selling it for scrap metal. I should've paid more attention to the back stage tour but I am surrounded by some of my favorite people including brand new vegan/Oregonian foodie Grant Butler, the aforementioned Tits McGee (that's my nickname for Court) and and an actor who can puke on cue, John Breen.