Fifi Leigh
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Today was a long and hot day. I started my day by walking across the street at around 8 am for a walking meetup. While walking towards the park, I ran into a Turkish neighbor, and we chatted for a while.
It was a warm morning, and it got warmer and sunny as more people arrived at the park. The group of about 55 people walked about 4 miles around Mason Park and the trail across the street from the park. At the end of the hike, I realized it was 87 degrees Fahrenheit today. I ate a small snack and chatted with some people at the picnic, before I decided to leave early because I wanted to go to the theater to watch Bolshoi Ballet. I walked back home, and drove to Regency Theater. When I arrived, I realized I was early. I decided to go across the street to browse inside the Bloomingdales Outlet. One item I wanted wasn’t there anymore. So, I decided to buy the other items I had noticed on Friday before the movie meetup.
Then, I drove across the street to the theater, at almost 1 pm. I got my ticket and picked my seat. I relaxed on the adjustable, cushioned chair, at almost lying position, as I got myself ready to watch Bolshoi Ballet’s Le Corsaire, performed live in Moscow, Russia. It was 3 hours with two intermission breaks. The story is performed in three Acts. Directed by Vincent Bataillon and choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, it was hosted by Katerina Novikova. The music was by Adolphe Adam and Musical Direction was by Pavel Klinichev. The cast included Medora by Ekaterina Krysanova, Conrad by Igor Tsvirko, Seyd the Pasha by Alexei Loparevich, Birbanto by Denis Savin, Zulmea by Nelli Kobakhidze, Gulnare by Daria Khokhlova, and Odalisques pas de trois by Ana Turazashvili, Elvina Ibraimova, and Xenia Zhiganshina, as well as The Bolshoi Corps de Ballet.
In Act 1, the slave trader goes to Seyd the Pasha to show him his slaves. Seyd the Pasha buys a beautiful slave. He suddenly noticed Medora, and he wants her, as well. He forcefully takes her. But by that time, Medora had fallen in love with a pirate named Conrad. Conrad’s private friends protect the two lovers as they leave together. They go to a cave at the pirate’s island, where their leader wants to free the slaves. The pirates fight their leader. Flowers are given to them. When Conrad smells the flower, he falls into deep sleep. Medora is kidnapped and taken away.
Act 2 takes places at the Pasha’s harem. A slave refuses to cooperate. Rebel pirates, Lankedem and Birbanto brings Medora, who has been crying, to Seyd the Pasha. Soon after, Conrad and his friend enter, disguised as Pilgrims, to rescue Medora. Conrad displays his face to Medora, and she is happy to see her lover. As he tries to take Medora, him and his pirate friends are captures and taken to the Pasha’s prison.
In Act 3, the harem has a plan to free Conrad. Pasha agrees to free Conrad, only if Medora marries him. Medora agrees, but she plans with Gulnare to switch places in the ceremony because Gulnare is actually in love with the Pasha. Their plan succeeds, and Medora and Conrad happily and excitedly go to the pirate ship. They celebrate being free and in love together on the ship. All of the sudden, there is a turbulent storm, in which the ship falls apart and they are shipwrecked. Conrad carries his love Medora on the shore. The dancing was lovely and elegant. I noticed the dancers were very light on their feet, like they were almost flying around like a feather.
At 4:35 pm, I drove home. I decided to stop at Trader Joes because I was out of groceries. I checked my iPhone to noticed that I had actually walked 7.1 miles today, from 8 am to 6pm, which also included 2 floors and 15,964 steps.
