Dinner: Fettuccini with Pesto and Sun Dried Tomatoes

 

Dinner: Roasted Cauliflower and Curry Cous Cous.

 

Everyman Theatre: Dinner and Cake

You know me--I'm sunshine and roses when it comes to theatre most of the time.

"Dinner and Cake" is a world premiere by playwright Tuyết Thị Phạm. It is the story of two families who come together on the occasion of their children's first anniversary of marriage. The Drummings are retired members of the Foreign Service who did their service in Asia, mostly Indochina. The Trans are members of the post war professional class in Vietnam and have traveled from Hanoi to Washington, DC for the occasion. The heart of the conflict is over the marriage of Matthew Drumming to Thuy Tran. And neither of them have a physical presence in the play. Instead the intermediary is Mylinh, a young woman with a law degree from Stanford whose family escaped Vietnam at the fall of Saigon, and who herself as traveled across the US to be with her White boyfriend. She has been asked to act as interpreter by the Drummings. The dialogue between the Drummings is in English and between the Trans in Vietnamese, Mylinh slides between the two translating and mistranslating in an effort to keep the experience civil. When Vietnamese is spoken the text in English appears above the stage.  The Drummings are written to personify the ugly American psuedo-cultural liberal elite, while the Trans work hard to not allow their resentment over their daughter's marriage to rise to the surface. The show is billed as a comedy...

Where to begin? The actors do well with what they have to work with. I was most impressed with Helen Hedman who has the heaviest lift as the outspoken and more blatantly bigoted of the Drummings. The playwright herself performs the role of Mrs. Tran. She is a good actress. Dinh James Doan as Mr. Tran has the least to work with as his character is the most subdued--which, of course, means that he will deliver the zinger line.

Here's the thing.  I respect the fact that writing a play is not an easy thing to do.  And to have the excellent resources of the production company like Everyman to stage it, is a gift that any playwright would be lucky to have; however, this cake was taken out of the oven too soon.  The first things first: as a comedy, it simply wasn't very funny.  The conceits were all low hanging fruit and most depended upon Carolina Do as Mylinh to deliver them.  A competent performance as far as moving the plot along, but comic timing?  Nope.  But even in the hands of a more capable performer, I don't think it would have made a difference.  Second, I had the big surprise at the end figured out 10 minutes in...and then just felt forced to wait for it.  I would wager that if I didn't even tell you, from what I have told you, you've got it figured out, too.  These are sophomore weaknesses in the design.  Don't hang your entire play on a gimmick that's been done since the Marx Brothers were making movies.

Finally, if you're going to go to all the trouble of writing a play, it ought to have something to say worth hearing.  The play ended on a flat note.  The cake has fallen.  The Drummings learn nothing except that they are boorish and stupid--and frankly, I'm not even sure they learned that.  They were just left humiliated.  Now, don't misunderstand, as the white characters in a play by a Vietnamese writer, I'm not saying that they needed to find redemption.  To have done that would potentially have placed them in the center of the story--which is where they think they are anyways.  But what do the Trans get out of this?  They are left no better off in terms of the central conflict.  They are, in fact, just as stuck as they were when their plane landed at Dulles.  The fact that the Trans got to stick it to the more than deserving Drumming's is a hollow victory, and leaves only the sense that the point of the play was to humiliate a caricatured white couple.  There is nothing to think about.  Like the surprise at the end that was not clever in the least, the effect of the work as a whole not simply leaves you without anything to ponder, it doesn't even give a reason to want to find something to ponder.   Mercifully, the play was without an intermission and only lasted 90 minutes.

The set and lighting were as amazing as I have come to expect from this wonderful theatre company.   

The Entire Cast L-R: Dinh James Doan (Mr. Tran), Tuyết Thị Phạm (Mrs. Tran), Carolina Do (Mylinh), Helen Hedman (Mrs. Drumming) and Bruce Randolph Nelson (Mr. Drumming).

Mrs Drumming and Mrs. Tran

Federal Appellate Judges Confirmed

 

Dinner: Potato and White Bean Puttanesca Soup

 

Dinner: Shepherd's Pie

 

Federal Judiciary: Honor the Service of Judge Ricardo S. Martinez

Appointed by President George W. Bush.  Served for just over 18 years.  Took senior status on September 5th.  First Hispanic Judge to be appointed to the Western District of Washington, Judge Martinez served as Chief Justice from 2016 until his change in status.  His taking on Senior Status opened the door to allow Justice David Estudillo to assume the role of Chief Justice in the Western District of Washington, make him the second Judge of Hispanic heritage to serve in that role.
 

Federal Judiciary: Remembering the Service of Justice Michael Stephan Kanne

Appointed by President Ronald Reagan.  Served just over 35 years.  Died in office on June 19, 2022.  The Seventh Circuit serves the states of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

 

Dinner: Nam Khao and Corn of the Cob

 Tried something new: Nam Khao a "salad" dish from Laos.  I am fortunate to live in a place where I have many options for buying the authentic ingredients.  I was mildly afraid that I wouldn't like it, so I added the Corn on the Cob for a bit of insurance.  It wasn't necessary.  

The fried rice balls with most of the rest of the ingredients.

Combined and AMAZING.  Corn optional!

Signature Theatre: The Color Purple

Let's just cut to the chase: WOW! Simply wow! Over the years I've come to expect a good show from Signature Theatre and often it also serves up some something exceptional. The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a stunning book, a beloved movies, and now a powerful and ultimately heart-warming musical.

The set was relatively simple, like looking at a box with two sides cut away.  The panels made to look like they were covered in shiplap proved more complicated when it was revealed that the board were able to open and close like Venetian blinds.  At strategic times in the production they opened to reveal a deeper layer of the action, with actors singing and delivering lines as if the conscience of the character on the open stage, or even to depict actions occurring in far away lands.  In combination with the lighting, it was very effective.  The costumes were lovely.  The ensemble perfect.  

Incidentals covered, the heart of every show is always the cast.  In this case, they were as strong and vocally powerful as any I have had the pleasure of experiences.  Solomon Parker III was every inch the amiable, good-natured, at times impish Harpo.  He brought a physicality to the role that was fresh and full of charm.  Danielle J. Summons' portrayal of Shug Avery was interesting and blended well in scenes with Nova Y. Payton's Celie.  Frenchie Davis was both commanding and then heart-breaking in the role of Sophia, with a voice that could raise the roof.  

Having said all of that; let's get down to the real stand out performances.  Torrey Linder as Mr. embraced the character's brooding and cruelty only to transform with the role to reveal Mr.'s full humanity.  And he did so was a voice the resonated deep within your chest.  His rendering of "Mister's Song" in the second Act set the entire audience into awe that was palpable.  

And still this production belongs to Nova Y. Payton.  With tremendous skill she navigated the arc of the character's transformation.  Every song was sung to fullest effect of the song, and simply as a showcase for her exceptional vocal talents.  When it was time to elevate the moment, BAM!, she was right there.  By the time the Second Act open, the audience was hers.  When she led the ensemble in "Miss Celie's Pants" I could feel members of the audience who wanted to stand as well as clap, and whatever held them back was loosed with "I'm Here".  I don't think I've ever seen a standing ovation directed at a single song before. 

So in tune with the production and feeling apart of the story, when Mister re-proposes marriage to Celie toward the end of the Second Act--a member of the audience called out what everyone was thinking: "HELL NO!"  The refrain from Sophia's first song.  Of course, everyone laughed.  For just a second, even Nova let the wall down, but just for a second.  It must empower a performer to know that in the middle of their performance they are beloved of those for whom they are acting.  I would be shocked if she isn't nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Music at this year's Helen Hayes Awards.  Further, if she doesn't win, then whoever does will have earned the honor--the bar is set!

Nettie (Kailya Gross) and Celie (Nova Y. Payton)

Ensemble number "Mysterious Ways"

Sophia (Frenchie Davis) and Celie

Performing at Harpo's Juke Joint, foreground Shug Avery (Danielle J. Summons) and Mister (Torrey Linder)

Harpo (Solomon Parker III) and Sophia

Torrey Linder performing "Mister's Song"

Performing "Miss Celie's Pants"

Nova Y. Payton Performing "I'm Here

The ensemble in closing number "The Color Purple"

AZA Convention in Baltimore

 Attended the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Convention this past week on Wednesday as a volunteer for the Maryland Zoo.  This is the first in person gathering since Covid.  It is the first time that it has been held in Baltimore and both the Maryland Zoo and the National Aquarium are co-hosting the event.  I am also a member of the AZA--have been for a couple of years now.  

It was a great experience.  Some pics.

THE CONVENTION CENTER

The concourse where I helped guide guests and answered questions during a lull.  Over 2,000 members attended the 5 day event.

THE EXHIBITOR'S HALL

I didn't count, but I would estimate 80 companies came to offer up their wares and services.

Ever been to a winter zoo lights event?

This company provides sculptures made of ocean plastic waste to highlight conservation messaging.

And there is swag!  I didn't think to partake until a fellow volunteer made the case--it was the last day of the Exhibit Hall and none of the presenters wanted to drag their tchochtke's back to Omaha, or wherever they came from.  Turns out, they were too eager to fill our bags--bags one of the booths gave us.  

THE SILENT AUCTION

About 100 items and packages of items provided by member zoos and aquariums was up for bidding in a silent auction.

Not surprisingly, this snout print by the superstar of the Cincinnati Zoo (Fiona) was of great interest to bidders.

I bid on this package from the Sonora Desert Zoo & Gardens in Tucson; however, I did not win...

PRESENTATIONS

The highlight for attendees are a series of presentations.  Volunteers were invited to pop in when things got quiet.  Not surprisingly, I visited one titled "What's New In Habitat Design".  I saw three presentations.  The first from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California highlighted their new "Into The Deep" expansion featuring animals from the deepest parts of the ocean.  The second was from the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Desert Palms, California and featured a multi-species Eastern Black Rhinoceros Habitat, and the third was about the 10 year renovation of the New York Aquarium after it was devastated by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012.

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

THE LIVING DESERT ZOO & GARDENS

THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM

Right after the water receded (it was 9 feet deep here)

Today after extensive renovations