The Bachelor, Wagner Style

First let’s introduce our Bachelor. The Flying Dutchman (“Dutch”) is a captain on the high seas. He owns his own big ship with blood red sails, and manages over 20 zombie sailors. His estimated wealth is beyond compare. His hobbies include long dour laments, archaic clothing choices, and eternal sea travel. Now, with a life this perfect, Dutch has appeared in a Norway bay as he does every seven years to find a faithful wife who will free him from his torment of eternal damnation due to swearing while sailing around a cape.

A Norwegian ship is in the same bay, and Daland immediately identifies Dutch as excellent husband-in-law material for his daughter Senta, although Dutch is completely lacking in social skills, and keeps hugging himself in agony.

In Act 2 we realize why Daland was so excited about Dutch and Senta – she is creepy as well. We find Senta in love with a painting. Apparently she is unhealthily obsessed with a story about a sailor doomed to sail forever and can’t find a faithful wife. Her boyfriend the hunter is a bit upset about this, and tries to snap her out of her insanity, but to no avail.

Daland, excited about this “opportunity” for Senta, introduces Dutch. This starts a staring match that lasts 10 minutes at least between the two “lovers”. I was immediately struck by how neither Senta nor Dutch had any communication skills – they spent their time singing to themselves and not saying a word to each other. This does not bode well for the long term prospects of their relationship.

While Senta stares at the ship, waiting to be carted off to certain doom by Dutch, the boyfriend the hunter comes by. While he’s talking about some day in the summer where they hung out, Dutch overhears the conversation. In a fit of overreaction, Dutch decides to sail away without her. Apparently because she hadn’t sworn before God, she would not be subject to the eternal damnation clause in the curse of the Flying Dutchman. Senta tries her best to convince Dutch she is true, but since she lacks communication skills, she can’t get her point across. Dutch leaves and as he does, she declares her love of him and hops into the ocean. Then of course, they both go to heaven hand in hand.

So, I guess “there is a lid for every pot” after all!