Asking for What You Want — in Portuguese

An attempt to get into a sold-out show provides a lesson about making requests

Author photo of Theatro Municipal, taken Sunday, March 24

I was ready to give up. The show had an 8 p.m. start time. It was 7:40 p.m.

My husband and I stood outside of the Theatro Municipal in downtown Rio de Janeiro, watching people arrive for a show of modern dance. This Monday night performance of “Sagração” by Deborah Colker’s dance company…