Where Andy weeps

A street ad for When Elephants Weep on Monivong Boulevard

I'm miffed again. This time it's with the folks at the Khmer Rock opera Where Elephants Weep that has garnered so much attention in recent weeks and where the publicity juggernaught has been in overdrive, promoting the event which kicks off tonight with its VIP Premiere at the Chenla Theatre. I booked my tickets for one of the cheaper shows on Saturday 6th when the WEW cast did a brief preview at Meta House over a week ago, and I called them today to arrange a time to pick up the tickets. Lo and behold, all tickets have been sold out for all the shows and my booking has been ignored, even though I gave it to one of the ticket organisers! I am not a happy chappy as you might imagine. I have given this opera a lot of coverage on my blog, I am even a judge in a competition with Expat Advisory to give away free tickets, yet I find myself cut adrift without a ticket of my own. There's been mention of another show being put on, but even so, I ordered my tickets in good faith and to-date, have been badly let down. It's all well and good promoting an event and getting it out there in front of everyone but that needs to be backed up with a robust ticket and booking operation in the background, or else it falls flat on its face. I am awaiting a call from WEW to see whether they have managed to wrangle me a ticket afterall. It also makes me wonder whether I'm an isolated case or whether there's a rump of unhappy opera enthusiasts gnashing their teeth like I am. More later.
Update (12 noon): I'm not crying as much now. Just had call from WEW and they can get me some cheap tickets for Saturday 6th. Not the seats I booked and I'll be with the riff-raff (only kiddin') but at least I should get to see the opera afterall. Well done WEW for coming through with a compromise after you made the booking error, and therefore the compromise is all mine! But as my mum used to say, beggars can't be choosers. She was full of useless quotes like that. Her all-time favourite was 'never trouble trouble, til trouble troubles you' - whatever that means. She is long departed from this planet, but not forgotten, her quotes live on.
Further update (2pm): I've stopped crying and am now smiling. Someone just called and offered me a ticket for tonight's VIP Premiere, free of charge, as long as I accompany their wife. I agreed without hesitation. A free show, lovely female company and I get to see it on opening night. The day could not have turned out better. I should moan more often!