Buying a box of Pierre Hermè macarones, was a big mistake, it is way too difficult to stop at one!
Ever since the excitement of landing such a great seat to see My Fair Lady, is perhaps the reason I checked and double checked my ticket tonight, or maybe it was the sugar overload.
Whatever the case, I felt a need to do this.
Wearing a new dress and heels, I headed for the Metro.
The Theatre Chatelet was buzzing when I arrived and so was I.
As I approached the counter fumbling in my bag, to exchange my on-line ticket for a house ticket, a sinking feeling came over me.
I left the ticket at home.
Perhaps it was the look on my face or the fact that I have perfected the pronunciation of ‘lost’ in French, that the lady behind the ticket counter calmly told me, it was not a problem, they found my booking.
What a relief, a quick calculation of how I was going to get to the apartment and back in record time and still make the performance, wasn’t adding up.
A glass of French champagne was in order, while I admired the reception areas. Just magnificent it was everything I hoped for and so was my seat.
The uptight queen next to me was very disappointed to learn that I had the very first seat on the balcony next to the stage, where he had already piled up all his belongings.
I leant forward, rested my arms on the plush red velvet of the balcony ledge and admired the view, as the orchestra tuned their instruments. I was in awe! What a fabulous seat.
The queen speaks, in French, of course.
I don’t completely understand what he says but I do understand what he means; sit back, no one will be able to see. I shrug my shoulders and say je ne comprends pas, I don’t understand – urgh he then proceeds to explain in English. Damn where is Russian when you need it.
If I could have spent the time to formulate the sentence:
Listen mate, do you know what I have been through to get here, how I have anticipated this night, how excited I am to have this seat and how I nearly didn’t get in because I left my ticket at home. AND I have been to the theatre before and I will sit back when the show starts, so chill out and continue reading your book!
The performance, costumes and stage sets were equally amazing. Magnificent and opulent comes to mind.
At the end of the show, the crowd went wild, some offering a standing ovation. The lights turned up and the performers acknowledged with three curtain calls. I looked back at the audience and thought to myself; that must be a tremendous feeling for the performers to look up, at this jam packed theatre, in all its beauty and see such a huge supportive audience.
As I looked back on the cheering crowd and the magnificence of the theatre, I also had a tremendous feeling.