This weekend I went to see Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in London. If you’ve never seen a ballet, I really recommend it. The best way I can describe it is it’s like watching a jewel box come to life. I am sure all of you have heard of Swan Lake before, but what is it about? Well, let me tell you the story, and then we will have some snacks.
Act 1: It is the Prince’s 21st birthday and there is a big party with lots of fun and dancing. The Queen, however, is a bit of a party pooper. She tells her son that now that he is 21, he needs to choose a wife. She also gives him a birthday present: a crossbow. Act 1 ends with the prince taking his new toy and going off on a hunting trip.
Comments from Mr P (my unfortunate date): “Hey, watch it with that bow, you are going to poke someone’s bullocks (balls) out with that thing.” Dahhhlings, be forewarned, do be careful who you invite to a ballet. I spent a large duration of the ballet listing to little sniggers and astute commentary on the subject of bullocks. Yeah, it was a ball bonanza.
Act 2: The Prince is hunting in the forest when he comes upon oodles of beautiful “swans.” The swans are actually girls that were put under the spell of the evil Von Rothbart. The swans spend the day swimming in the enchanted lake (made of tears), but at night, the swans turn back into into beautiful ladies. The most beautiful of them is Odette, the Swan Queen. The prince falls in love with Odette. She tells him that the spell will not be broken until she finds true love.
Mr P: “Whoah, did you see all those flying bullocks!?”
Me: “Yes dear ” (and he calls me Dumb Bunny Bilkins????).
Act 3: Back at the palace, the prince makes an announcement that he has found the woman he wants to marry. There is a celebration. The evil Von Rothbart puts a spell on his own daughter though, to make her appear to be Odette. The prince ends up pledging marriage to the wrong girly. The real Odette is looking in the window though, and she sees him agreeing to marry someone else. She runs back to the lake. The prince later realizes what has happened. He leaves find Odette.
Mr P: ” They should make a ballet about Spider Man”– Gosh, could boys be any more stupid?
Me: “I guess so, he’s already wearing the right costume.”
Act 4: The prince and Odette console each other. Although he has pledged marriage to the wrong girl, he can not break his vow. Still, he and Odette decide that they would rather die than be apart. The prince and his swan jump into the lake together. All the pretty swans turn back into girls, and the spell is broken. The souls of the two lovers ascend to heaven over Swan Lake, together for eternity.
Mr P: “That’s bullocks.”
Oh, what a tragic ending to a beautiful love story, isn’t it? You know, there is only one way to console one’s self in times such as these: sweets! Off to Bar Boulud my dears, Daniel Boulud’s first venture into the UK, inside the fabulous Mandarin Oriental Hotel. That should ease my sadness…
I’ve heard some mixed reviews about this place, so I thought I’d start small: tea and sweets. After sampling these goodies though, I decided I’m going to have to come back here and try the whole shebang, cause what I had was delicious. It really surpassed my expectations.
I was just going to have the madeleines, but Mr P decided to get me the macarons too. Ah yes, now I remember why I married him. I forgot for a second amidst all that talk of bullocks that my husband is pretty damned awesome. I wasn’t expecting the macarons to be as good as they were. The selection consisted of three raspberry and three chestnut macs. The raspberry were very tasty, but the chestnut ones blew me away. These really could rival the delicious treats at Laduree. I was very pleasantly surprised. I told Mr P that the chestnut ones were mine 
. He’d had enough nuts for the day LOL!
Then there were these sweet teeny weeny madeleines. Oh, they were just wonderful. They were served piping hot with a dusting of powdered sugar and a hint of citrus. Divine. These shell shaped sponges are guaranteed to wipe away any trace of sadness. Perfect for a swan necked princess such as myself 
. Positively ethereal.
p.s. Before I go, I’d like to leave you with a thought. How come super heroes are always wearing leotards with their panties on top and nobody bats an eye, but men look at ballet as being gay? Watch this video, I think you’ll see what I mean.
It sounds like a fantastic time. Love all the pictures. Hope you’re enjoying this weekend.
oh I watched Swan Lake when I was growing up in Moscow. It was such an amazing day: great music, dancing, and we got to eat fancy food afterwords
My hubby would be snickering about the ball-fest as well!
And I totally want to try those chestnut macaroons
I kinda “forced” my husband to watch a ballet performance once and he’s been complaining about it ever since!
I have seen Swan Lake; Beautiful. I love the ballet. Sounds like you had a wonderful date night with your hubby. The madelines are gorgeous! I’ve never had one, myself. I’d really like to try them. =)
Cheers.
I loved the writing in this post – and the photos and the artistic mood and the raunchy humour and descriptive tidbits. Oh, my – HH – you are full of surprises. I have seen Swan Lake. Many years ago – and adore your description: a jewel box coming to life. That is perfection. I am surprised Mr. P was able to utter a sound in the ballet. Here, he would get attacked and yanked out almost after coughing. I was shocked when I went to the theatre in London that people were talking and eating and drinking throughout. It is a very formal occasion in Edmonton. We do all of that at the intermission, but barely breath while in the Theee-a-ter. Love it, though. Just love it. I particularly love the video. Where do you find these things?
XO
Valerie
I have only seen Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake! Truly brilliant.
Looks as though you have been having a wonderful time in London – again.