Adventures in Ashland Part 2

Jul 15, 2008 08:13

We have seen four plays and a fabulous cabaret show, walked shopped, seen beloved old friends, and eaten way, way more than is good for us. As firehair28 once said about Burning Man, "Zut alors, what a ride!"

Friday night -- Comedy of Errors: covered in a previous post.

Saturday morning we took tour of the backstage areas of the Elizabethan theater and the indoor Angus Bowmer theater. Our tour guide was Emily, who played the Sister (Luciana?) in Comedy of Errors and was to play Hermia later in the afternoon. She was charming, and we learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes. We watched the crew setting up the Bowmer stage for the afternoon play, complete with Disco Ball, which ought to have been a Clue.

Saturday afternoon -- Midsummer Night's Dream in the indoor theater:
The fairies, including Puck, would have looked right at home in the Castro. The ambience was late 70's/early 80's disco, and the fairies stole clothes, went through purses, and were flamboyant as hell. Oberson was played by a black gentleman in a costume that looked like a spiderweb of shadows, with iridescent feathers on the arms and behind his head. Titania was just plain punk, very Cindy Lauper. The four lovers kept taking off most of their clothes (or having them stolen by fairies), Hippolyta was played by a statuesque black woman who kept Theseus mostly at arms length, and Theseus himself was played as a New York (perhaps Jersey) mover-and-shaker in a tailored suit and dark glasses. The Pyramus & Thisbe crowd were old hippes who came onstage in a flower-painted VW microbus with red velvet upholstery. There was neon hair, high heels, and way too much fun was had by all. We loved it.

Saturday evening we saw "The Clay Cart", a 2000-year old Snskrit play which proved to be a fascinating glimpse into an entirely different social and ethical system as well as a glorious spectacle. It was very complicated and about 3 hours long. The most famous and respected courtesan in the city falls in love with the hero, a virtuous Brahmin who has lost him wealth because of the Evil King and who has a wife and child. The King's brother-in-law also desires the courtesan, and much intrigue ensues. Everything turns out happily at the end, because the form requires it, and the courtesan becomes the hero's 2nd wife. The women all wore real saris, there was live music, and it was altogether fabulous, if a bit long. Fell into bed about 11:30 PM.

Another guest wants to use the (one-and-only) hotel computer. More later!
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