The Ashland Report
We're into Day Two of our four day weekend to Ashland, Oregon and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It's a v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n. It's been so long since P. and I have had one by ourselves, I hardly know what to think.
Not that vacations with the kids aren't fantabulous (witness Disneyland a couple of years ago), but sometimes it's grand to do things just with P.
Ashland, Oregon, which is quite close to the California border, has some of my favorite weather ever. Warm to hot summers, fairly temperate winters, and decided springs and autumns. It's similar to Klamath Falls in that respect, and the weather in K. Falls was one of the few things I liked about that town.
I have always liked Ashland a great deal, and every time we're here, we wish we could stay. When we lived in K. Falls, Ashland was where we'd come for our alternative medicine appointments (because K. Falls didn't believe in naturopathy in the early 90's), and for when we needed a dose of Liberal Thinking (K. Falls is still very, very conservative). But I realize that it's probably much rosier a place to visit than to live. As far as I can make out, there isn't much industry in the town, though more, of course is in Medford. There's the University of Southern Oregon, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival ... and that seems to be about it. So try as I might, I can't think what P. or I would do for employment in the area. Okay, I can do project management anywhere, and if not that, admin and support work. P's talents are a little more specific.
The only other thing is that it's a small town. I mean, despite the influx of tourists each year, it really is. And it ain't cheap to live here, I'm guessing.
SIGH Maybe a small cottage where I can write several months out of the year ... right after I win the lottery.
This morning we hung out at The Beanery and had excellent coffee and scones, and scammed off their free wi-fi. I think we'll go back tomorrow and have breakfast for a few hours. Then we went to Lithia Park and read our books in the shade, and had picnic lunch until it was time for the matinee. It's sunny and 80 outside. Sooooo happy to finally see some sunshine, I can't tell you. Seriously, no amount of words can express my joy.
Sun deprivation much?
We saw Twelfth Night last night, and wow was it mediocre. I'd never seen a show at OSF that wasn't fully awesome, but I suppose there is always a first time. I will say, though, the young man who played Feste, Michael Elich, was magnificent! ZOMG, he was perfect, truly perfect. Incredible.
Today was Pride and Prejudice, or as I called it, P&P, The Good Parts Version. I know the story back and forth, so there were no surprises in it for me. It was such a good production, though, that it was a joy to watch. Everything was spot on. I think what I enjoyed most was the sheer theatricality of it; scene changes were woven into the storyline seamlessly, costuming choices were perfect, AND perfectly period (you'd be surprised how many people get period costumes wrong). The adaptation was not the standard fare, so that was a little jarring for me (I'm used to the same ol' lines, you know?) but it was a treat to hear the people around me react to the story for the very first time. Everyone was completely delighted at the end when boy gets girl. And boy gets girl. It was fabulous to feels such an audience buy-in. It was a truly ensemble performance, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. Two thumbs up!
Tonight is Henry IV, Pt 1. I've never seen this one, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing something I don't know forwards and backwards. I get that treat tomorrow as well, when we see Merchant of Venice. I know, I know, you'd think I'd have seen it at least once, but I never have. I hope it will be fabulous! We also get to see Hamlet tomorrow, and while I've seen it a zillion times, Bill Rauch directed it, and he's the same gentleman who directed Equivocation that we caught when it toured at the Rep last year. Should be full of awesome.
And now it's time to go! More from Ashland later!
Not that vacations with the kids aren't fantabulous (witness Disneyland a couple of years ago), but sometimes it's grand to do things just with P.
Ashland, Oregon, which is quite close to the California border, has some of my favorite weather ever. Warm to hot summers, fairly temperate winters, and decided springs and autumns. It's similar to Klamath Falls in that respect, and the weather in K. Falls was one of the few things I liked about that town.
I have always liked Ashland a great deal, and every time we're here, we wish we could stay. When we lived in K. Falls, Ashland was where we'd come for our alternative medicine appointments (because K. Falls didn't believe in naturopathy in the early 90's), and for when we needed a dose of Liberal Thinking (K. Falls is still very, very conservative). But I realize that it's probably much rosier a place to visit than to live. As far as I can make out, there isn't much industry in the town, though more, of course is in Medford. There's the University of Southern Oregon, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival ... and that seems to be about it. So try as I might, I can't think what P. or I would do for employment in the area. Okay, I can do project management anywhere, and if not that, admin and support work. P's talents are a little more specific.
The only other thing is that it's a small town. I mean, despite the influx of tourists each year, it really is. And it ain't cheap to live here, I'm guessing.
SIGH Maybe a small cottage where I can write several months out of the year ... right after I win the lottery.
This morning we hung out at The Beanery and had excellent coffee and scones, and scammed off their free wi-fi. I think we'll go back tomorrow and have breakfast for a few hours. Then we went to Lithia Park and read our books in the shade, and had picnic lunch until it was time for the matinee. It's sunny and 80 outside. Sooooo happy to finally see some sunshine, I can't tell you. Seriously, no amount of words can express my joy.
Sun deprivation much?
We saw Twelfth Night last night, and wow was it mediocre. I'd never seen a show at OSF that wasn't fully awesome, but I suppose there is always a first time. I will say, though, the young man who played Feste, Michael Elich, was magnificent! ZOMG, he was perfect, truly perfect. Incredible.
Today was Pride and Prejudice, or as I called it, P&P, The Good Parts Version. I know the story back and forth, so there were no surprises in it for me. It was such a good production, though, that it was a joy to watch. Everything was spot on. I think what I enjoyed most was the sheer theatricality of it; scene changes were woven into the storyline seamlessly, costuming choices were perfect, AND perfectly period (you'd be surprised how many people get period costumes wrong). The adaptation was not the standard fare, so that was a little jarring for me (I'm used to the same ol' lines, you know?) but it was a treat to hear the people around me react to the story for the very first time. Everyone was completely delighted at the end when boy gets girl. And boy gets girl. It was fabulous to feels such an audience buy-in. It was a truly ensemble performance, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. Two thumbs up!
Tonight is Henry IV, Pt 1. I've never seen this one, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing something I don't know forwards and backwards. I get that treat tomorrow as well, when we see Merchant of Venice. I know, I know, you'd think I'd have seen it at least once, but I never have. I hope it will be fabulous! We also get to see Hamlet tomorrow, and while I've seen it a zillion times, Bill Rauch directed it, and he's the same gentleman who directed Equivocation that we caught when it toured at the Rep last year. Should be full of awesome.
And now it's time to go! More from Ashland later!