Well you can't bite the hand that feeds you — and The West Australian Opera is finding the meaning in that sentiment. For the state-owned company, a 2-year ban has been imposed on any production of Bizet's Carmen as it promotes "unhealthy" behavior.
An age old debate that surrounds the greater issue of promoting smoking, Carmen features cig-suckers and, thus, doesn't comply with the philosophy of their respective donor, Healthway.
Dropping a whopping AU$400,000, the sponsorship deal strictly wants to keep it healthy on stage and refuses to let the opera have a say in the issue. While it might be strict, it's not easy circumventing the people who are helping foot the bill.
The sponsorship deal was posted on Wednesday and has brought with it some controversy. Maybe after the deal has expired, the company can revisit a Bizet program.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, per The New York Times, had some words about the ban, saying that opera is "an exaggeration and if we are running around looking to take offense or looking to spread some politically correct message, just about every opera would be forbidden."
Right on, Abbott.
So the Perth-based opera company will have some trouble getting Carmen to the stage, but will try to accommodate patrons at a later date.
For now, here's another from the company.
