I’m having more fun than is probably legal summarising opera plots for The Omniscient Mussel’s international contest.

More, in fact, than is strictly within the rules since the contest doesn’t open until next Monday.

There is a measure of sanity to this madcap game. I hate convoluted opera plots and classical farces with characters hidden in shrubbery. Any opera that can’t be summarised in 140 characters should never get onto a stage.

Here’s a couple of samplers, for starters:

Salome: ‘Bring me that man’s head on a plate,’ she says, dancing. Sad stripper gets what she ordered.

Jenufa: Village full of inbred bigots. Girl has baby. Granny drowns it. She gets nicked. Have another drink.

I’m having more fun than is probably legal summarising opera plots for The Omniscient Mussel’s international contest.

More, in fact, than is strictly within the rules since the contest doesn’t open until next Monday.

There is a measure of sanity to this madcap game. I hate convoluted opera plots and classical farces with characters hidden in shrubbery. Any opera that can’t be summarised in 140 characters should never get onto a stage.

Here’s a couple of samplers, for starters:

Salome: ‘Bring me that man’s head on a plate,’ she says, dancing. Sad stripper gets what she ordered.

Jenufa: Village full of inbred bigots. Girl has baby. Granny drowns it. She gets nicked. Have another drink.