Photo by Johan Persson
Having lived there a long time ago, I can testify to the modest size of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Besides the marlins in the bay, waiting to be caught, it has some 12,000 people. The San Francisco Bay Area, on the other hand, is short on marlins, but it is inhabited by more than seven million folks, that's 7,000,000.
And yet, when the Royal Ballet's wondrous HD series begins next month, kamaaina and malihini will enjoy them in Makalapua Stadium, along with Boise, Tampa, Leawood (Kansas), and elsewhere, while nobody in this vicinity will have access. Sad, and somewhat dumb.
That was the situation Monday afternoon when I wrote to Michelle Portillo, communications manager for Fathom Events, asking why, oh why? She replied: "San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose should be coming on board shortly. We're just waiting for Cinemark to give us their list of participating theaters. Once we have that list, I'll alert you immediately."
By last night, I received information that Emeryville, Cupertino and Dublin are now among the venues!!
So this is what we can look forward to during the next three months:
- Don Quixote on Oct. 16, with Royal Ballet principal guest artist Carlos Acosta in the role of Basilio, Marianela Núñez as Kitri.
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on Nov. 19, Sarah Lamb dancing the title role.
- The Nutcracker on Dec. 17, Peter Wright’s classic production, a Covent Garden audience favorite since 1984.