Snap Crackle Pop - what a beautiful ballet

PAB and I had the pleasure of seeing Swan Lake performed at the Bristol Hippodrome last week. The principle dancer was a young, beautiful Russian (aren't they all) and the dancing and music, as always with Swan Lake, superb. Actually the only thing I could find amiss in the whole performance had nothing to do with the dancers or musicians or even the lighting. It had to do with the audience. As the curtains rose and the jester twirled, I hear criiiinkle. Chomp, chomp, chomp. Sluuurp. And "Oh no love, I just spilled me beer. Move your purse".

Now I realise Americans started the whole eating in the movie theatre, $10 popcorn, biz. But what we haven't done (and hopefully will never do) is extend that kernel crunching, candy smacking, soda slurping annoyance into the proper theatre (ballet, opera, symphony, etc.). I am a candy fan as much as anyone, but I think I can forego a snickers or two during Tchaikovsky. A ballet is one place where you should be guaranteed to NOT have a beer spilt on you. I had to keep myself from saying SHAME to the bartenders and candy vendors when leaving the theatre.

I don't know why this bothers me so much, but there seems something sacreligious about eating Cadbury Eclairs while watching two lovers die on stage.

Now that that's off my chest I can go about my British life without glaring at every passing Brit as a suspected candy cruncher :)