Outside
McDonalds on Swanston Street, there was a rank of horse drawn carriages. We had an hour to kill, so I inquired the
price. The driver told me. I smiled, nodded politely and we stood there
admiring the horses. A short time later
a father and son came along and inquired the price. The driver told him. The father smiled, nodded politely and they
stood admiring the horses.
I
knew my daughter would love the carriage ride, so I asked the father, ‘Do you want to go
halves?’
Soon
we were clopping through the streets of Melbourne, with blankets across our
knees, admiring the lights and the fountains.
It’s a peaceful, if somewhat smelly, way to travel. I could almost sense what it would have been
like to travel to the ballet a century or more ago. Okay, so perhaps the lights of the MCG wouldn’t
have been glaring, cars wouldn’t clog St Kilda Road and the Eureka wouldn’t
tower over everything, but it was a lovely experience to share with my daughter
(and a couple of complete strangers).
At
the theatre, we were amongst the first to take our seats. We had cheap seats right up the back of the
balcony. With few people in the theatre
it was a dizzying height, but the other seats were soon filled.
During
the performance of Pequita, two rather tall ladies with large buns perched on top
of their heads sat in front of my daughter.
I offered to swap seats but my daughter was happy where she was, peeking
between the big hairdos. We swapped
during intermission but the tall ladies didn’t return, so we had a
clear view of the two acts of La Sylphide.
Pequita
was spectacular, showing the amazing technique that ballet is famous for. But La Sylphide? What an amazing production! The sets were fabulous, the dancing divine
and the story easy to follow: A Scotsman
is awakened by a sylph on his wedding day and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, as wedding plans are underway, the
best man is trying to win the heart of the bride. The Scotsman insults the wrong wedding guest (a
witch) and tragedy ensues, but despite the tragic end for the Scotsman and the
sylph, the story is light-hearted and funny.
The
best bit according to my daughter: When
the best man does an impression of the sylph, then tries to sit on a chair that’s
been moved. That was my favourite bit
too.
