Mikado @ Monto

It’s been a hectic week… with 1800 km travelling, multiple events to attend and a birthday to celebrate (posts coming soon on some of those highlights) I am a bit faded round the edges today.

However, my darling Mother had arranged tickets to the Opera@Cania – so I girded my weary legs, got the family dressed appropriately (nice but cool, it’s stinking hot here despite being mid-March) and headed to one of the most scenic places in our region (and Queensland!).

I am going to admit right up front that I am not an opera buff.

I have NEVER been to the opera, but the chance to celebrate something fabulous (and cultural) in our community was too good to miss.

We attended with family and friends in a gorgeous marquee set up near the banks of Cania Dam.

Those who have been around a while might recognise (at the table in the foreground) my Dad talking to his brother (Tex) with my aunt (Bron) chatting to a neighbour, Kris.

Bron is pretty much as snap-happy as me – I sprung her taking a sweet selfie before our meals arrived.  I imagine others looking on shaking their heads at me taking a photo of Bron taking a photo… ha!

The meals were SUPERB…

I had atlantic salmon on the most glorious salad… scumptious and I still got to feel rather virtuous.

Dash nabbed the lamb rack… he also discovered radishes and ensured everyone’s plate was free of them by the time the meal was done (his adventurous palate never fails to thrill me).

The dessert was simple and delicious (and possibly less virtuous)…

Build-it-yourself pavs – meringues, blueberries, strawberries, dragonfruit, chantilly cream….

Nom. Nom. (And downright selfie-worthy).

As the humidity and heat built, we took our seats outside the marquee… along with a couple of hundred others!

And The Mikado got underway…

And even though I missed out on a program, and had no real idea of the storyline…

We soon picked it up!

And the talent we were sitting before soon overcame any doubts I might have had…

The singing…

The comedy…

The drama….

And the sheer FUN of this comedic opera!  Even my hard-to-impress (and somewhat reluctant attendee) hubby was swept up in it.

It was fascinating to see dedicated bushies pretty much mesmerised…

Aside: I wonder how many akubras are generally present at the opera?

Before the show commenced, we heard that one performer had travelled from Melbourne today to be part of this.

This amazing singer (centre) had performed in that city last night, flown to Brisbane this morning, and driven 600km to perform.  That’s dedication!  So when it started to rain part-way through the event, the audience stayed put…

After all, a little rain never hurt anyone, did it? (Especially farmers who have been looking for some more!)

Umbrellas and hats came in useful, and we enjoyed some relief from the humidity.

However, in the second half, Mother Nature decided she’d had enough of not being centre stage…

And. It. BUCKETED down.

We gave up and headed undercover, as the performers held fast to their staging and props!

Everyone stayed however… waiting out the downpour or a good 20 minutes, in the hope the crew would too…

AND THEY DID.

An abbreviated (and hilariously improvised) final act was performed with the audience crowded around the stage – no sound system, making the band and singers hard to hear, they all went ahead on a very wet stage before a delighted (if somewhat damp) crowd.

We cheered them long and loud… and they returned the favour.

I think they enjoyed that their audience was so dedicated to hearing them out!

It’s true what they say:

The show must go on – and the audience must see it through too!

(Because it will all be worth it, in the end.)

Signing off now, weary from the week that was, but oh-so-wonderfully spent…

🙂