One World

Last night I went to see a Chinese Opera.  It was fantastic.  I tried to read the brochure to see what it was about, but there was no English translation.  Surprisingly, that happens alot here.  Anyway, the opera was fantastic.  It was about a prince worried about who to marry.  In a park, he met what I can only imagine is an enchanted mermaid with a glistening dressing gown.  Chemistry was instant and soon they were married.  There was a gathering of other nobility.  Then straight out of Sleeping Beauty, an evil emperor came and demanded the princess.  But the prince would hear none of it and war ensue.  Unfortunately, the evil emperor won.  The couple, in their ever matching gowns, tried to burn themselves alive when a neighboring emperor offered refuge.  They traveled to a distant land, but the offer was soon rejected.  And the enchanted mermaid princess was taken away.  She returned shortly, tattered with massive bed-head.  But the couple were not re-united long.  Again the enchanted mermaid princess was asked to leave, but instead the couple drank poison and walked into the heavens supported by a lively group of 8 dancing milkmaids.  Well... that's my interpretation.  Anyway, it was absolutely exquisite.  The costumes were amazing.  The 11 piece orchestra did a tremendous job.  The singing was outstanding.  There were a few occasions when the dancing men and women nearly crashed into each other during the dance segments, but all well worth the $21US price tag.