Alexander McCall Smith, whom I wrote about recently, has started up The No. 1. Opera House project in a small, converted garage just outside Gaborone, Botswana. This tiny garage is a restaurant by day and an opera house by night. A full house is 60 seats.
The first opera will have its premiere there in October of this year and it is called The Okavango Macbeth. Apparently, the opera explores the themes of Macbeth set amongst a colony of baboons.
That must be Lady Macbeth on the left! Photo taken by Max Waugh
Perhaps with their clear social hierarchies, they too have Lady Macbeth issues!
Or maybe it’s just a case of monkey business?
Actually, I love the idea of having classics in new settings…
How about Romeo and Juliet, with their families fighting like … well … cats and dogs?
Romeo and Juliet
And what about Othello? Green with jealousy over his beloved Desdemona – set among chameleons?
Jealous Othello
And, of course, we mustn’t forget this passionate couple…
Antony and Cleopatra
… Antony and Cleopatra!
You know what? The phone’s ringing off the hook (I’ve often wondered about this expression. I mean, if it’s off the hook, then it can’t ring. But I digress…) and my house is surrounded by movie moguls who want to buy the rights to my idea. They’re stampeding like wild elephants.
I only hope they give me an offer that is ‘herd’ to resist.
Lady Fi 
I think perhaps you’ve gone off your rocker, or off the hook, as the case may be!
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I have heard about the Swedish midsummer madness….now we know what it is like!! However, you haven’t changed much over the 45 years I’ve known you so maybe …….
In Darwin they call it the Mango season, as that is when it is the most humid (when mangoes are ripe) and people start acting like it’s a full moon!!
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Thanks for the kind comments, ladies! I lost my marbles decades ago.. Have you only just noticed? 😉
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Hahahaha, genius….I’m not surprised the movie moguls are knocking at your door!!
C x
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All shots are FANTASTIC :))))
Thanks for the smile,
I love fun (@^.^@)
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Is the idea that Macbeth lives with the baboons or that he IS a baboon?
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I always thought that the saying “ringing off the hook” meant that the phone was ringing so hard it leapt off the hook… now my cell phone just vibrates off the nightstand. Did I just coin a new phrase or am I also going off my rocker… off the deep end… out of my mind?
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i ADORED the Romeo and Juliet!!!
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I’m a huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith, and that idea is intriguing! Also, it mentions that he is part of the RTO (really terrible orchestra) on his book jackets-another interesting idea.
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Hilarious photos!
I haven’t read McCall Smith’s books, but I would love to.
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Good idea. I’m not sure the animals would cooperate, but people in costumes will make it work.
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Hahaha brilliant post. But is this opera house for real? I feel tempted to go live at the back end of Gaberone, at the end of time… watching baboons do Shakespeare.
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Yes, the opera house is for real and is the opera… It opens soon. I’d love to go and see it too!
The rest is just a figment of my overactive imagination, though…
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I love you any way.
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Oh You are one carzy woman!I am glad you do not have to bottle up all these ideas! lol!~!!
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You are so punny! You gave me a good laugh that I DESPERATELY needed! 🙂 I think you’re ideas are BRILLIANT!
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Alright, I LOVE the Romeo and Juliet played by a cat and dog idea! Good job LadiFi! I bet you’re earning a fortune now.
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Clever post and great photo finds!
PS- Thanks for the supportive comment on our blog about coming out. : )
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The chameleon picture is my favorite.
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LOVED the romeo Juliet cats and dogs reference! Bravo!
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I guess there’s a lot of work in putting the phone BACK on the hook after it rings off–almost as much as you put into your ‘productions’! Great post.
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I guess you should be writing the scripts for the Opera and sing your own song 🙂
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Great depictions of Shakespeare! Love the chameleons and kissing fish.
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A lovely post. Enjoyed catching up on the last one too – what a simple but great idea!
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Antony and Cleopatra? They looked like Romeo and Juliet to me
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But then, pretell, how to make Iago even uglier??
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Somedays you are just too much..Thanks! 🙂
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You have some wonderful ideas. Is this movie coming out soon? I look forward to all your creativity now and in the future.
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It could be utterchaos, but film to watch!..
PS. have you lost your tablets?
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I love it…especially Romeo & Juliet dancing. How did you manage to photograph such rare talent….
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I think you should actually WRITE the opera! You seem to have the right quirky ideas!
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🙂 You are so creative. You should be writing plays.
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