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Speaking of Fat Ladies Singing...

Friday night's game was a perfect example of why I pay an extra five bucks a month getting the internet on my cell phone.

You see, I was performing in an opera last night.  Il Trovatore (you know, the one with the "Anvil Chorus") at the San Francisco Lyric Opera.  And yes, there was a fat lady singing and she was awesome.

I played the part of Ruiz, the sidekick of Manrico, the good guy.  My part pretty much consists of running on stage with some recit, leaving and then closing out the scene when I return with the chorus serving as the cavalry to save the day.  The opera has four acts and is about three hours long.

Out of those three hours, I'm probably only have about 30 minutes of actual stage time which leaves me with plenty of time to follow the game on my phone.

If you think MLB Gameday sucks, following a baseball game on a cell phone is way worse.  I was probably a sight to see.  I was wandering backstage in costume pacing back and forth.  I was either muttering in a low voice or doing a Eckersley-esque fist pump to display of dissapointment or joy of the games progress.  Between refreshes on my cell phone's browser I was always shifting my position searching for a stronger signal, we were in the basement of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park.

I probably looked like Star Trek character scanning for lifeforms.

After singing my small bit ("Siam giunti, ecco la torre.  Ove di stato ge'monoi prigioneri.  Ah! L'infelice, i vi futratto") to open the fourth and final act I picked up my cell phone to follow the game.  By this time it was the top of the tenth.  I knew I had plenty of time.  This was the act where most of the characters die and since it was opera, it would take a looong time.

Let's just if real life was like opera and somebody was shot in the head.  That person would have about five minutes to sing an aria saying goodbye to the world and belt out a few high Bb's and C's before expiring.  Yes, I had a lot of time.

But, as we all know, the game wouldn't end that quickly.

I breifly considered going to my bows with my glasses on and cell phone in hand, but I didn't; it wouldn't have been professional.

After changing out of the costume, it was the bottom of the twelfth.  Swisher had just been walked, it was time for Marco Scutaro.  I was still refreshing my cell phone browser.

I thought to myself "Why the hell am I still on the phone, Marco's going to do something.  I need to listen to the game in my truck."  I bolted for my truck and turned on the radio.  I made it just in time to listen to the hit live.

The next minute or so I was screaming in the cab of my pickup truck.  It was a mad garble of "YEAAAAHHH!"  "LET'S GO OAKLAND!" and "BI-ATCH!"  I haven't felt like this since Jason Kendall hit that home run.  I then calmly collect myself and drove off to a tapas bar to have some drinks with the cast.

It was a good night.

0 recs  |  Comment 20 comments

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Indeed!
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball." -- Connie Mack

by GreenSocks on Sep 23, 2006 3:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Great diary
Nice writeup.  I pictured it all, but since I don't go know Opera, you were dressed like Dracula.

by calvin on Sep 23, 2006 8:44 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Acutally
I was dressed like a character in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
"it's like an alarm clock, WOOT WOOT!" -Bubb Rubb

by secret ASian man on Sep 23, 2006 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, that would be Spoletta
"...but we're also always open to hearing about other sandwiches if it can make our lunch better." -- Nico, channeling Billy Beane

by iglew on Sep 25, 2006 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A talented bunch here on AN
Enjoyed picturing you at the opera listening to sports. Good job!

by IM4Oakgal on Sep 23, 2006 11:07 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

thanks for the writeup
That was a good read, and that opera has been a favorite ever since I was a kid watching Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, and Groucho.

by jakarta on Sep 23, 2006 12:38 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I wish we had more diaries like this
You know, instead of a seventy fifth HH diary. Such an ejoyable read. I commend you ASian man.
there's simply no club like the white elephant club

by walk off bunt on Sep 23, 2006 12:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Quote
Don't know who said it but it goes something like "Baseball is the poor man's opera."
"I realize that I'm generalizing here, but as is often the case when I generalize, I don't care." -Dave Barry

by tmail on Sep 23, 2006 4:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bravo!
Scutaro would be a great name of a character in a Verdi opera.
"The bigger the game, the better he pitched."

by Catfish27 on Sep 23, 2006 4:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

There's Gotta Be an Opera...
... or a parody of an opera, about baseball.  Maybe I'll try to write it.

Thanks for the humorous post.  And, the diversity of talent by ANers never ceases to amaze.

by Dan_Honolulu on Sep 23, 2006 5:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Eight Men Out... The Opera
It could work.
"it's like an alarm clock, WOOT WOOT!" -Bubb Rubb

by secret ASian man on Sep 23, 2006 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Congradulations
Say Hi to Joseph - my co-worker has a part in there too.

by MobiusKlein on Sep 23, 2006 6:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey Secret Asian Man......
Loved your diary last month about the Eck....
I was traveling when I read it so I didn't post, but I met the Eck last year down here in St. Thomas when he was on vacation. I got his autograph, hell of a nice guy. Just thought I would share. Go A's (and Ducks)!

by stthomasfan on Sep 23, 2006 7:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Awesome, man
That's what I do down in the pits while you're on-stage!

I love working with Barnaby... he's doing "Magic Flute" next month.

by anomaly_kat on Sep 23, 2006 9:19 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately
I'll be in Minnesota during Flute.  I hope I will be able to catch the A's at the Metrodome while I'm there.
"it's like an alarm clock, WOOT WOOT!" -Bubb Rubb

by secret ASian man on Sep 23, 2006 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Peel the onion, Kenny
Manrico is the good guy only at the surface level.  Di Luna is Manrico's doppelgänger.  Each is what the other might have become but for the grace of God and circumstance.

By the way, I sang Ruiz with San Francisco Lyric Opera in 1997. Feels sort of like passing the torchh.

Verdi is kind to comprimari (unlike Puccini).  Even with an otherwise thankless role, you usually get one really gorgeous solo.  That "siam giunti" bit is luscious, one of the best lines in the whole opera.  And you've got full focus (right after intermission, too!) so you can milk it for all it's worth.  Good times.

"...but we're also always open to hearing about other sandwiches if it can make our lunch better." -- Nico, channeling Billy Beane

by iglew on Sep 25, 2006 12:43 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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