Assuming that you have a superb insta-translator, opening nights for Lope de Vega’s Fuenteovejuna and Molière’s Malade imaginaire, both wih the original casts of course. With my apologies to our French-language posters, who may disagree, those are their own cultures’ equivalents to watching a Shakespeare opening night at the Globe.
I wouldn’t mind being at the openers for Aida and Die Zauberflöte (I think I spelled that right) either.
So many good answers. I would choose the opening night of Verdi’s Otello at La Scala, February 5, 1887. It took almost six years of persuading (or plotting) Verdi out of retirement to write it. 20 curtain calls and the audience removed his carriage’s horses to pull him to his hotel in appreciation. The city shut down the streets for blocks around, and the audience chanted and applauded outside his balcony until 5:00 the next morning. Not Verdi’s best (IMHO), but the atmsphere must have been electric.
In my experience, the second performance of any given play is almost always the best.
The original Broadway production of *West Side Story *with Carol Lawrence and Chita Rivera.
I’d like a seat on the bus going to the Globe theater…not picky about which show.
Also, I would like to have seen opening night of Funny Girl with Streisand.
It would have been fun to have seen Carrie, just to say you saw the most expensive flop on Broadway (watch the most recent episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm for the reference that made me think of this.)
The *cast! *Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, W. C. Fields, Peggy Hopkins Joyce, Allyn King (the showgirl, not the comedian), Will Rogers, Lilyan Tashman, Bert Williams!
If there’s still a ticket (and translator) for Oedipus Rex, I’ll take it. (Though if I had time to go through them, I might choose another Greek play).
Wouldn’t mind seeing one of the Who’s live Tommy shows, if rock concerts with quasi-opera themes count as theater.
Any show in ancient Galilee with Jesus in the audience.
Especially Jesus Christ Superstar. Meta.
You seem to be implying that there are times in which Bernadette Peters is less than goddesslike. I’m sure that was an accident.
That’s going to be hard to book. And the restrooms (by which I mean outhouses) will not be up to the standards I require (by which I mean they’ll be freaking outhouses). So, no.
From that account:
“…and certain cannons being shot off at his entry, some of the paper or other stuff, wherewith one of them was stopped, did light on the thatch, where being thought at first but idle smoak, and their eyes more attentive to the show, it kindled inwardly, and ran round like a train, consuming within less than an hour the whole house to the very ground.”
What kind of trains did they have in 1613?
I believe it is definition 5 from here: TRAIN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
There is also a definition of a moving line of people or things (or clothing). I believe both of these well pre-date the steam locomotive you are probably thinking of.
In the summer of 1972, as a callow 20 year-old studying in England, I saw a play called Butley, directed by Harold Pinter and starring Alan Bates. While I thoroughly enjoyed the play, I had no idea who Harold Pinter and Alan Bates were. I would love to be able to see that production again!
In the summer of 1972, as a callow 20 year-old studing in England, I saw a play called Butley, directed by Harold Pintar and starring Alan Bates. While I thoroughly enjoyed the play, I had no idea who Harold Pintar and Alan Bates were. I would love to be able to see that production again!
Oooh, I also want to go back to Berlin in 1928 and see the revue Es Liegt in der Luft, with Marlene Dietrich, Margo Lion, Oskar Karlweis, and Mischa Spoliansky’s wonderful orchestra!
Then while I am there, wander around to see if Anita Berber is dancing anywhere nearby.
The longtime Broadway theater critic for The New Yorker magazine Brendan Gill said that the single most electrifying performance he had ever seen on Broadway was Julie Andrews singing I Could Have Danced All Night in this production. I’d like to have seen what it was like.
On the other hand it comes with all you can eat loaves and fishes. (And for an extra two mites Jesus will turn some ketchup into tartar sauce.)
Are we allowed to to sneak in 21st-century recording devices? If so, I’d like to be in the Ziegfeld Theatre at Sixth and 54th (Manhattan) on March 13, 1947, for the opening night of Brigadoon, starring kaylasgreatauntie in the role of Fiona. Kayla (and kaylasmom, of course) would surely love to have a DVD of that.
No backstage chitchat, though; I trust I needn’t expand on the reasons.
Sure. What do I care?