Turandot

It's a Sunday and last night Mycroft was at the Opera.  This time, it was Turandot (directed by Graeme Murphy) at the Sydney Opera House.  The three acts of this production make it easy to remain focused.  After each interval, one is refreshed and ready for more drama and love conquering all.  Not being critical, but I must admit it's hard to see why our hero Calaf is so besotted with Turandot.  She does seem to be a rather nasty princess, even on one of her more friendly days.  Character assessments aside, a lavish and exciting production which was enjoyed by a packed house. 

Turandot may perhaps be one of the inspirations for the portrayal of the imperial concubine in George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman and the Dragon.  Yehonala, the imperial concubine, asks no riddles but she is certainly as ruthless as Turandot.  That is probably the limit of the connection as Flashman is no Calaf.  A Flashman opera might be quite a hoot as the anti-hero schemes his way through a series of bedrooms, torture chambers, gambling dens and numerous other seedy haunts of the Victorian era. 

Perhaps 'Flashman' might be Andrew Lloyd Webber's next hit?  I can imagine it having a 1000 year run in London, tourists flocking.  The best part is there would be an endless range of 'amateurs' well qualified to play the lead role of school bully, cad and womaniser!