garnigal: (Default)
[personal profile] garnigal
I had a busy weekend to end off September.

On Saturday, I met my mother in Stratford. We went to Fabricland to get fabric for bedroom curtains, to the theatre to see Colm Feore in Cyrano de Bergerac, and then out for dinner.

The play was wonderful. It took me a bit to get into it - there's a huge cast, and it seemed like they were all on stage at once in the first scene. All, except for Cyrano. Isn't it bad writing to start a story with a scene about 'where is the main character?'

Anyway, once Cyrano took the stage, we were enthralled. Feore has incredible presence, and he knows that stage so well. Mom and I were in the back of the balcony off to the side, which were still excellent seats, but I found a few actors were slightly incomprehensible - especially when they slipped into the French. With Feore, every single word was intelligeable, without seeming forced. I could even understand the French, which was miraculous in itself. Well played, well directed (by Colm Feore's wife, Donna Feore), and the costuming was lovely, even if the women's dresses made them look broad-bottomed. Most impressive was the staging. I know they know their stage well, and know how to use it to the best of it's ability, but the multiple story moveable balcony was still an amazingly useful and believable set piece. My favourite scene was the battlescene, with hidden flashpots and cannon thundering, and the choreography for the three duelists - yes, three duelist apparently onstage at once, each with their own multiple opponents! I can certainly see why the choreographer directed this show. I cried when Christian died in battle, I cried all through Cyrano's incredibly long death speech. An incredibly moving, and for the actors(especially Feore), an incredibly exhausting play.

And supper was tasty too. :)

On Sunday we got up early to go to the Zoo and see the polar bears and baby snow leopards. We had a lovely day, weatherwise, and saw so many animals that I can't even name them all. The otters were very playful and probably the highlight of the trip, though all the big cats (so many tigers) are also always popular. My feet and legs (and butt) were aching by the time we left though! We went for sushi in Guelph on the way home, then I crawled into bed. I felt much better the next day until I had to stand up - it felt like the soles of my feet were bruised. It may be time for new shoes.

I have a bunch of pictures from the summer trip to the zoo and from this trip that I need to post on Flickr and Facebook - I'll be sure to post links once I actually do that.

Date: 2009-09-29 02:46 pm (UTC)
jerusha: (Default)
From: [personal profile] jerusha
Oh, otters! I do love otters. And polar bears and (baby) snow leopards. The play sounds fantastic, too.

Date: 2009-09-29 02:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] garnigal.livejournal.com
If you ever come up her to visit, I'll make sure to take you and Tyson to Stratford Festival. The town is beautiful in and of itself, but with the framework of a play (or two) to go to, it makes for a fantastic day.

We're going to see West Side Story on Hallowe'en, too - hopefully it's as good as Cyrano was.

Date: 2009-09-29 04:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] texanfan.livejournal.com
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! :)

Date: 2009-09-29 06:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] garnigal.livejournal.com
Hee! I'll do my very best to edit them up tonight so they are pretty. I have some from Stratford too - there's a river and park in the centre of town, and they populate it with swans... so pretty.

Date: 2009-09-29 11:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a2zmom.livejournal.com
I've read Cryano but never seen it. It sounds like a fantastic production. I love live theater.

Date: 2009-09-30 12:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] garnigal.livejournal.com
I really do to. I'm so glad I live where I do - 1 hour to Toronto, 1 hour to the Stratford Festival, 2 hours to Shaw, and almost every small town in southwestern Ontario seems to have a local theatre. Even growing up out in the boonies, I was only 15 minutes from Blyth Festival, which was the one of the first of the small town theatres, and 1 hour from Stratford.

Date: 2009-09-30 06:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ares132006.livejournal.com
You certainly got a lot in, no wonder your feet felt like they were bruised.

I love baby animals of any description. The zoo sounds like you had fun.

And I'm glad you had a good time at the theatre.

How was your Mum after all this? Did she keep up, or leave you behind. *big grin*

Date: 2009-09-30 12:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] garnigal.livejournal.com
Oh, Mom is in way better shape than I am! She wasn't silly enough to try and pack in a trip to the zoo on Sunday though...

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