Die Fledermaus Tickets

Set in the late nineteenth, Die Fledermaus is a light-hearted classic story set around revenge. It might seem a mystery with some deep rooted truth but it is anything but that. It is a classic story where settling of scores, seduction, disguises and mistaken identity create a humorous situation that has the audiences gripped throughout. The hilarious operetta is being directed by Christopher Alden. The operetta is composed by Johann Strauss II, who is also known as the 'Waltz King of Vienna'.

Unfortunately, most of his work was destroyed in a furnace fire by his brother, in order to protect it from being copied by other composers. He is accredited with writing many gallops, polkas and waltzes and numerous operettas. The overall plot of is amusing and based on humor.

Die Fledermaus literally meaning the bat refers to the joke which the wealthy and womanizing Gabriel Von Einstein Von plays on his friend, Falke when he leaves his drunken friend dressed as a bat. Falke, who is the victim of ridicule, decides to get back at the practical joker. A lesson he hopes, will set the scales right.

The story humorously touches on the duplicity of the sophisticated class. Die Fledermaus is the kind of farcical plot in which the wife doesn't recognize her chambermaid, who poses as an actress, the husband is unable to identify his wife just because she is wearing a mask at the ball and the clueless prison warden arrests the wrong man, without confirming his identity. Perhaps this stands out as one of Strauss's best operettas written and was a crowd puller then and even now. Die Fledermaus tickets are just as popular as they were in 1874, when the show premiered.

The story set into 3 acts begins when Gabriel Von Einstein is sentenced to eight days in prison for a minor offence, due to the ineptitude of his lawyer. Falke, the victim of Von Einstein's prank, invites him to the masked ball, luring him with the thought that he should gather pleasant memories with ladies to keep him company during his imprisonment. Von Einstein's wife, Rosalinde is visited by her lover after her husband's departure. Coincidentally the prison governor Frank arrives, arrests Alfred, mistaking the lover for the husband. With an excuse to visit a sick aunt, Rosalinde's chambermaid, Adele, also preps to go to the ball as she has been invited too.

Falke's plan is set into motion and all is set for the characters to meet at Prince Orlofsky's ball. Their aliases for the masked ball prevent the characters from immediately recognizing each other. What follows is a hilarious drama with obscured identities and the champagne flowing freely. Things get mixed up and boil down to the last act, where the climax unfurls and things settle down agreeably.

The plot might not offer big surprises, yet the way the story is portrayed will definitely have you clutching your sides. Its dynamic music changes, which fit the scenes compliment the overall drama beautifully. Although the scores may not be too appealing if listened to out of context but will definitely have your toes tapping or have you humming.

Die Fieldermaus tickets should be bought in order to see the comedy live. If you think you've seen it, think again for this is an eye opener that will delight all avid opera lovers. With the running time slightly on the longer side, close to three hours and thirty minutes, the operetta makes full use of it; never having a dull moment on-stage. The grandest Mask ball of the season is sure to get you laughing and immersed in the Vienna of the 1890's.