Take It All Off

Things will get a little steamy at the Dallas Opera when Richard Strauss' Salome opens on Friday. Salome is the name of a sexy bad girl in the Bible. According to the biblical account, John the Baptist is in prison for protesting the unholy union of King Herod with Herodias, the wife of his brother. Herod also has a thing for his new wife's daughter. In fact he's so hot for Salome that he promises her up to half his kingdom if she will perform a striptease for him. The girl agrees, but when it comes time to pay up the king is shocked by her request. She wants the head of John the Baptist brought to her on a platter. Sound spicy? Not spicy enough for Richard Strauss. His version of Salome has the girl going crazy with desire for John the Baptist. And why not? He's a hairy, fire-breathing prophet who lives in the desert and eats grasshoppers. Spoiler alert: It all ends with Salome passionately kissing John's severed head and the appalled King Herod ordering Salome to be killed. Now that's entertainment. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Wednesday and February 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Music Hall at Fair Park. For more information visit dallasopera.org.
Fri., Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 3, 2 p.m.; Wed., Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., 2008