February 6th, 2011:
Colder, after a few warm (about freezing) days. We got a skiff of snow, then the temperature dropped overnight, so can expect some icy streets.
It has been an interesting week.
On Monday, Judith Duhaime phoned to say she was in town with Frank, who was attending the SUMA convention. Frank is a Porcupine Plain councillor. We arranged to pick Judith up Tuesday morning and take her to coffee at our local Co-op, then she came to the house for lunch, and we took her back to her hotel after lunch. We had a wonderful visit, got up to date on Judith's and Frank's family as well as many others in the area.
Holly Marquette is putting on an Evening in Paris night at the Perigord Parish Hall on Saturday, February 12th. It is in support of arthritis research – her aunt Celeste's daughter is a sufferer so the family has a personal interest. While visiting with Connie, Celeste and Joan back when Maurice was in hospital here, I undertook to provide a photograph of the Crooked Bush for their silent auction. The crooked trees and arthritis seemed to be a good match.
I had the enlargement made at Phase 2 Photographic, here in Saskatoon, mounted on canvas on a stretcher frame which can be hung on the wall without a frame, then had to get it to Holly in time for the event. I phoned Joan, and she got in touch with Sylvia and Emile who happened to be in the city, and they came around to get it. Another wonderful visit!
They tell me Maurice is doing well after his hip operation, though he gets a little impatient with Connie, who refuses to drive him to coffee when it's -40°!
We went to our first dinner theatre of the year, at Persephone Theatre on Wednesday. Everything clicked – taxi arrival times, great meal, and great show. There were only two actors in it; each played the same character throughout. Wonderful evening!
Since we started going to the Persephone shows, the ones that have made the greatest impression on us were four that had only two actors: Thunderstick, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Lawrence and Holloman, and one I can't remember the name of. In many cases, the two actors even do their own scene changes. I suspect they are the most memorable because it takes a great deal of talent to make a show without the glitz of big casts and fancy sets.
I remember seeing Jesus Christ, Superstar – a wonderful show, and only a scaffold with various cloths draped on it for a set. Compare that with Phantom of the Opera, where the set came in several semi-loads and took a month to set up, yet it didn't have anywhere near the impact of JCS.
On the other hand, Miss Saigon had a very elaborate set and great cast, and I will never forget it! The same could be said for Cats, the first time we saw it. The next time we saw it, it was blah. Canned music and generally second-rate. |
