By La Cieca 
A parterre reader just back from the matinee of Powder Her Face relates this story of two elderly ladies seated in the second row, barely arms-length from the stageful of naked male extras who invaded the Duchess’s hotel room.
As the lights come up for intermission…
First Little Old Lady: “It was really interesting seeing all those different ——s. They were all different shapes and sizes.”
Second Little Old Lady: “And colors!”
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
