Venice After Dark....

Travel memory:

Although I was in Venice "solo", I didn't want that to deter me from getting 'out and about' in the city after dark.  After all, Venice is the most magical city in the world (and one of the safest) and what a shame it would be not to experience it during the evening hours.

Each evening I did stroll around a bit - often going to that popular meeting place the Rialto Bridge and, of course my feet took me to Piazza San Marco.  But I wanted to do some sort of 'evening activity' as well, just to get a rounder, fuller experience.  

I also didn't want to repeat any activities that previously my friend Peni and I did when I was there last in 2012.  We went to a fun group "Ghost Walk" and also had an evening listening to an incredible symphonic rendition of Verdi's "Four Seasons".  Despite trying many times to like opera (yes folks that is true, I gave it a shot 3 times in Toronto), I remain decidedly NOT a fan.  However, symphonic/instrumental performances, well, I love them.  And this particular outing did not disappoint - it was wonderful, enhanced by its location in the old prison block that is connected via the Bridge of Sighs to the Doge's Palace. 

So what to do this trip?

I went to the tourist office and booked "The Story of Venezia" held at the Teatro San Gallo.

The Theatre itself had a delightful exhibition of Venetian costumes. Each costume had an explanatory panel.  Very well done.

Note for instance, the Plague Doctor's Costume with the black cloak.  The bird-like beak was designed to keep the nose of the doctor as far away as possible from the disease and was also stuffed with sweet smelling herbs to filter both the smell and the germs of the dead and dying.  

 I had a wonderful time looking at the lavish display.  

However, that is where my delight ended.  The production itself was utterly horrible.  
Really. 
Hideous.
Truly dreadful.

• Bad writing - dull, boring, witless
• Bad acting - one actress kept forgetting her lines big time
• Bad production elements - i.e. it projected up images on the wall - absolutely dull and grainy and made Venice look like a corner of hell.  (Betcha you did not think that was even possible?  That is what I thought too!  But they did it.)
• Also, where someone was speaking in the film it, it was not even queued to the mouth movements.

The only interesting element was a half hour segment where they showed a film on Venice by Francesco da Mosto which I had already seen on PPS. Even that looked horrible on the wall. 

AND I paid 39 Euro for it too!  If you find yourself in Venice, in my opinion (to echo Marco), give it a miss!  

Read my scathing review of it on tripadvisor.  It was a British production (I usually have an extremely high opinion of their plays, tv series, movies etc.).  Any good reviews of it on tripadvisor I am guessing were friends or relations. Had to be. Too dreadful.

Nevertheless, I was proud of doing something solo.  I tried something new and not everything is going to make the grade.  So, it served its purpose AND the costume display was delightful.

Hope you enjoy the pictures... as before, click on them to view them full screen for best viewing experience.  :)  :)