Talk:2017-2018/@comment-67.85.242.194-20160207164234/@comment-74.65.254.119-20160309021841

Unfortunately, Eyre's Manon Lescault IS the worst production at the Met at the moment. Acts II and IV take place in particularly hideous settings. Overall, situating the action in 1941 France just doesn't make sense. This was France occupied by the Nazis, not just a random background for a "film noir" as Eyre seems to believe! In the original story, Manon is exiled to America. But in 1941, I guess many French would actually have loved the opportunity to take a boat and come to America! So where are Manon and Des Grieux sent to? a concentration camp? That would be very risqué but at least it would make sense. But no, they just end up in a "wasteland"... where? we don't know. Why exactly? Not clear either. That this is the middle of World War II does not seem to matter much. Really, a terrible, terrible production. I would have loved to hear Anna Netrebko sing Manon, but there is no way I will pay another ticket to see this again.