The Love for Three Oranges

Ah, last night was fun! I do so enjoy a story that can poke fun at itself without ruining its own plot. And I always appreciate a piece of entertainment (whether it be a book, a movie, music, a play or an opera) that contains meta references!

And this opera contained not only that, but also some awesome costumes and set design! The stage contained a whole world within it, which had all sorts of weird and awesome things like giant playing cards strewn about the floor in all sorts of directions, curled up in the sun to look like sand dunes.

This version of play was done by a french group, thus the French title would be Amour des trois oranges.

I do tend to like operas (and foreign films) when they're done in french. Yes, this does have English subtitles! *groans at the possibility of watching a foreign opera without subtitles*

Plus, this was no tragic mess of soapy soppiness... this was pure sarcastic glee; the meta references in the ridiculously awesome plot give the story a heady dose of comic genius. Very well done!

I've only found the DVD for this sold at one website (www.opusarte.com), because.... well, the opera is popular. For good reason!



ETA: By "meta references," I am referring to the fact that the opera is self-aware of its position as a fictional story and a form of entertainment, and has quite a few characters who are also aware of this fact.