Culture, at last!

We're in Ashland, finally!  The drive from San Francisco is about 7 hours, with a pleasant diversion in Redding, California, of all places, where some tax money has created a really momentous piece of functional art, i.e., a bridge (called the Skyline Bridge) over the Sacramento River.

We are staying at the Plaza Hotel, Ashland style, of course, but not bad, and within walking distance of the theaters. 

For those of you who don't know, Ashland, Oregon is very close to the California border.  Originally, it was redneck country (perhaps it still is, outside of the city), but in the 1940's, Shakespeare came to Ashland, and the three theaters - a large Elizibethan theater, a medium sized venue, and a small spot for more intimate plays - as well as the shops, the restaurants, and, of course, the weather, have made it a wonderful place to visit.  Hank, formerly David, and I, together with a varying cast of characters, have been coming for 25 years.  This year, we are joined by Pat Ferry, a friend of ours from banking days in San Francisco, and Carol Dodd, a friend from Salt Spring Island

So far, the theater itself has been disappointing.  The first, Willful, was an experimental play, and, to be kind, didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  And the Henry IV Part II was a mess!  The old standby actors we are used to seeing were missing in action this year (with the exception of the Falstaff character, who was terrific).  The new crop can't project or enunciate, and the fool director had then talking to the back of the wall.

Well, that's the thing about live theater - it is always a risk.  When it is good, it is very good, and, often, when it is bad, it is awful! 

One thing that can always be counted on - there are wonderful restaurants.  Our current favourite is Sami's Bistro, the finist dining experience I have had for a long time.

Today is the backstage tour (I've done it before, of course, but Carol has not), followed by Ghose Light, a world premiere, and to top everything off, The Pirates of Penzance!  We're off to San Francisco tomorrow.  Were it me, we would leave at the crack of dawn, but Hank does not do crack of dawn well, so 10:00 A.M. depart time it is. 

And then, the final preparations for Europe!