The truth is that with her keen ear for cant and eye for the absurd, she was not suited for that role - except, of course, on stage.
At eighteen, having badgered her parents for a trip to Paris, she dumped her chaperone and enrolled in a course on stage design taught by the Hungarian artist Ladislas Medgyès, who introduced her to experimental theatre, and to her destiny as a bohemian.
Two races on the course at one stage.
Of course, once on stage, the group, in a moment of sublime defiance, performs it.
The grand apotheosis initiated by Nicklausse/Muse in the Epilogue (Act 5) is especially moving, as the characters from the previous acts — all Hoffmann's creations, of course — appear on stage to supplant Nicklausse/Muse as a source of inspiration for the poet.
Exit polls, which had suggested that the far-left Unidos Podemos coalition was on course to stage a historic breakthrough by pushing the socialist PSOE into third place, were thoroughly confounded as it became clear that the anticipated surge would not materialise.
Great Britain is on course to stage "the first truly global Paralympics" in London this summer, say organisers.
Robin Guarino, the stage director, oversees the students of the Mannes Opera in a production of Mozart's classic dark comedy, or comic tragedy (depending, of course, on the staging).
There is, of course, the animals-on-stage issue.
Of course there is on-stage nudity too, but, mobile phone cameras aside, on-screen images tend to last longer.
Of course, we went on stage, did our stories, some surreal stuff, some songs, and people started to say, 'Ah, you're not too bad, actually... we'll buy you a beer.'" The scene grew to the extent that New Zealand now hosts an international comedy festival every year.
