Stratford and Toronto
Sep. 29th, 2009 10:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
garnigalI 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.
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.
