Monday, April 29, 2019

Norman, Coordinate!

I get that the folks at Madison Opera in their production of Rusalka were trying to imply that the heroine was dangerous from the get-go by showing her during the prelude as a jilted woman drowning herself, but all that seems to do is make a plot-hole.  Why does she suddenly want to become human again?  She is described the Water Gnome's daughter.  There was nothing in the libretto that suggested that she was originally a suicide.  Can someone please give an explanation?  

Also, why does Ježibaba take the shoes?  I get that the knife is mentioned later, but does she just take the shoes as trophies?  It makes no sense.