I never would have thought I would truly enjoy musical theater, but turns out it's amazingly entertaining, and one of the truly unique forms of American pioneered entertainment.

So last time I posted the very nice dinner I had before Les Miserables at the Pantages theater in Hollywood. I talked about doubling the cost for the night out and taking half of it (that I would have spent on a date) and putting it into my investment portfolio, and reaping the next week until payday as a lesson in austerity and what I'm really getting for myself vs dumping on a date.

Well, this month I accidentally made a double contribution to my stocks, so it has been TIGHT in the budget.

But...opening night, front row center orchestra for Phantom of The Opera is not something to miss out on.

So, my dinner did not consist of a cocktail and a three course meal, but a stroll down Hollywood Blvd. People watching, and just one espresso from intelligentsia and a water "mit gas" as the Germans say. So saving money, but still being able to treat myself to one of the great plays in modern history. Good luck taking a date out for "an espresso and a show"...

The show was pretty incredible. Possibly the best show I have ever seen live, ever, across all genres. I mean Universal Studios or even the Mouse would have a hell of a time beating this production. Honestly, if you see this year's production coming to near wherever you're at, it's worth the money to see it. ....10 foot tall rows of flame and indoor pyrotechnics...that's all I'm going to say....

Now for a mgtow (a bit tongue in cheek tone here) analysis of the poor Phantom.

The phantom of the opera didnt realize what he had going for him. Dude had straight up supernatural powers, (or he was a magician who could make Houdini and David Blaine his bitch).

He was a music teacher who had skills to take a mediocre dancer chick and turn her into a songbird diva. He had a seriously badass hideout (presumably private island?) Nobody knew about. And he was REALLY rich. 20k francs a month from the theater owners as payment for, well, "protection". Ok so it was a racket, but still, I'm not going to begrudge the guy a living.

And he was in the end, a complete (to properly use the pejorative) incel. I mean dude couldnt handle rejection, he let it go to his head, declares war on the couple, and ends up with the girls boyfriend in a noose and her absolutely hating him while getting a slightly rapey silence of the lambs vibe going on.

If the phantom had just been like "yeah I'm wearing this mask because my face is really gross and i just dont want to put anyone off too much because it makes me just as uncomfortable as it makes you" and taken more of a "yeah I'm going to make you into a great singer because this other one we have is kindof a bitch and I want to keep this business taking in cash" everything would have been just fine for the guy.

He'd have been able to snag whichever dancer or performer he wanted to llay with, because hey who wouldnt want to be able to say they had the favor of the great and powerful "phantom"? He wouldnt have had to go so batshit crazy in his mishandling of what would have been just another typical rejection.

Bro would have done much better just going his own way, instead of trying to force himself on another by favor, coersion, and violence.