faithandreason - Vitriol for Valentine’s – The Second Part: From Madama Butterfly to Mardi Gras

Vitriol for Valentine’s – The Second Part: From Madama Butterfly to Mardi Gras

Written by Pietro Aretino

Tuesday, 24 March 2009 03:28

On Saturday night Madama Butterfly was performed at the Sydney Opera House. On Saturday night the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras writhed its way around the streets of Sydney.

I’d intended to see, and hear, the opera. My Companion and I had just finished an excellent dinner where the gluten-free bread was glorious and the waitress got accused of flirting with me. As we went to depart I discovered that the opera began half-an-hour earlier than I thought it did - to wit, it had already begun. Dancing through the Circular Quay Mob we made it to the Opera House, dumped our extraneous goods in the cloak room and stole into a box with the assistance of the ushers.

By this time the Mardi Gras would have been in full gyration. It began as a political protest seeking full recognition for people of non-straight sexualities. I could list them but there are new ones being discovered every minute and I wouldn’t dare to leave out some poor maligned subset of the human experience. Now it seems to be little more than a slightly scandalous parade and street party. The earnestness of its politics has been replaced by the weakest and broadest and most simplistic swipes at anyone and anything that can be seen in any way as homophobic.

We had to flee the opera at the start of the second act due to ill-health – so much for the curative effects of great art. We had been there long enough for me to be entranced by the music and fascinated by the story. Madama Butterfly concerns a love so devoted that it causes its own death. A line I remember refers to a love so strong that one dares not speak its name for fear of its power.

After I had My Companion safely home-wards with her family, I began to stalk the city.

For a celebration of all things queer, the streets seemed to lack that certain gaiety. I saw some same-sex couples but not many. The city was overrun with hyper-sexed packs – one lot tried to beat another senseless in the street near Town Hall. I saw a lot of lingerie and skin, the detritus of any teenage party littering Hyde Park, and an immensity of police.

I looked at the Cathedral and saw something that looked as if it had always been there and always would be there – unlike the parade.

The line from Madama Butterfly reminds me of Wilde. But this debaucherous street-rave has nought to do with love. Like the modern Valentine’s Day it is an indulgence in all-things carnal and crass. It is violent and banal and boring – and full of silly sentiment.

My street-stalking may have been fun, but where, oh where, had all the lovers gone?

Amor Vincit Omnia and to all a good night.

-Pietro Aretino

DV

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