"But aren't people who see the Opera expected to suspend belief more so than musical theater? A very over weight tenor playing a Matador in Carmen would be more accepted than say a very over weight tenor playing the Phantom."
It is that way, but I don't know how it came to be that way. Why are people who see opera expected to suspend belief anymore than someone who is going to see a Bway show? I don't see the difference. But somehow it came to be so.
btw - how did you italicize like that?
"Some of us have it worse, you know, Dana. Some of us are dating lesbian men. Okay? C'mon."