Drama in Minnesota

Post date: Jul 18, 2016 2:14:24 AM

Drama in Minnesota: Two Plays, Two Cities, and Two Weekends

A Blog Post for July 17

Last weekend Mike and I drove up to Minneapolis to see a play: “Lady and the Trump,” a political satire presented by the talented crew at the Brave New Workshop. Matt Vichlach, my friend Lavonne’s son, is the Tech Director and did a wonderful job serving as the announcer as well. A troupe of five cast members managed to get the packed house laughing—and maybe thinking—about our current political choices and warned us upfront that they would probably offend everyone. However, we found the performance lively, insightful, and funny. Using minimal stage sets and costumes, the actors sang, interacted in character and did a series of short sketches that explored some of the characteristics of the leading contenders for the White House, as well as a few others who dropped out of the race. As the program’s director noted, “Laughing might be the only thing that gets us all through this.”

Mike and I stayed at the downtown Radisson, where we enjoyed a wonderful hotel room—in sharp contrast to the horrible experience Lavonne and I had out in Indiana. Fortunately, hotels.com gave me a $100 credit and that helped pay for the room at the Radisson. The theater was only a couple of blocks away, and we were able to walk there and back. Lavonne also attended the performance and Matt joined us for a quick supper beforehand, and then afterward we got the chance to compare notes at the Rock Bottom Brewery, just across the street from the theater. We enjoyed the excitement of the big city nightlife as we walked back to our hotel around midnight. It was a fun, fast trip and we decided we would go back someday.

This weekend we got tickets to see “As you Like it” at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, held on the campus of Winona State University Campus. Our friends Roy and Joyce came up from the Des Moines area on Friday and we dined at the famous Galleria De Paco restaurant in downtown Waterloo: the artist used thousands of spray paint to make the ceiling and walls look like the Sistine Chapel. We had great service and food and enjoyed looking at the beautiful colors and figures of art.

Saturday we got up and drove to Winona, taking the back roads to enjoy the view, before the matinee. Admiring the rolling farm fields, winding roads through rocky hills, and small towns, we chatted away and soon arrived in town, where we located the college and then enjoyed lunch at Sammy’s Pizza and Restaurant. Winona is the home of a University and has the feel of a college town. The performances take place on campus, but the festival is clearly a collaboration with the community and professional actors and theater people.

The GRS festival celebrates its 13^th season this year, and we have attended at least two other plays here. They used a very simple set: a large platform that could be rotated held half a dozen small pillars which became whatever was needed: a palace, or a pavilion in front of the palace, or a forest. Several musicians were part of the play, and their music and singing added a great deal. Costumes were also well done, with a lot of Elizabethan touches in the tunics, vests, and tights for the men, fancy dresses or robes for the more royal born and simpler garb for the country folk, with bright colors, aprons, boots, and hats. While not totally a musical, there were a few songs and dances. We recognized many of the actors from previous seasons and loved the performance.

We had excellent seats, since Mike and Roy decided we needed good ones to justify the drive! Just four rows back (out of spitting distance, as someone pointed out), we had actors running down the steps beside us and could see and hear the action. It was wonderful.

So, we’ve seen two plays in two weeks– they were very different in their settings, costumes, and stories – but both were immensely enjoyable, as evidenced by the crowds. We were reminded of the power of live theater to stir one’s soul and imagination, especially Shakespeare (what would he have done with Donald Trump and Hilary?) We’re also determined to look for more opportunities to experience live theater: for too many years, when asked if I could attend a concert or play, I have said, “Oh, I have papers to grade!” Now, we intend to take the time to enjoy these things. I hope you will, too!

Links to some of the places I’ve mentioned

http://www.pacorosic.com/art/index.php?id_cms=6&controller=cms

Paco’s restaurant in downtown Waterloo

http://grsf.org/about/plays-history/as-you-like-it/

The Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN

http://www.bravenewworkshop.com/theatre/now-showing/

The Brave New Workshop in downtown Minneapolis

Last Updated July 17, 2016