On The Road — Page 118

8 Hours in Boston

September 2, 2011 at 11:45 am by Claudia

A whirlwind of a day in Boston – Don had never been there and we had two free hours before the game, so I took him on a walk through Beacon Hill. (I am in love with the window and door on this house.)

Don did his salute to Abbey Road.

We visited the ducks in the Public Garden.

And the swans.

Went to Fenway. Glorious. Sat in the grandstand amongst a great group of fans.

We had the best time. We ate lots of not-so-healthy food (including a cupcake that was a wee bit too rich.) Cheered for the Sox. They lost, but we don’t care. The experience of being in that almost 100 year ballpark so full of history was priceless. We had to drive home after the game and arrived back at MHC at 4 a.m. I got up at 8:30. Not enough sleep. But oh so worth it.

I have more photos to share with you. But that will have to be on another day.

One Last Post from the Road

June 17, 2011 at 10:14 am by Claudia

This is the Blithe Spirit set. I took this last night as I waited for our second preview performance to begin. We had a full house and lots of laughter. Whew! This space is named the Up-The-Hill Theatre. Believe me – it is up a hill.(I need to get in better shape.) And for most of this theater company’s existence, it has been the only performing space. Surrounded by trees, it springs up seemingly out of nowhere. The audiences here are incredibly loyal and they make an event out of coming to the theater. They picnic and grill and generally have a wonderful time before the show begins.

See? I wasn’t kidding about the name. The newest space is an indoor theater – the Touchstone. It is smaller in size and wonderfully intimate.

I really love the design; almost barn-like and beautiful in its simplicity.

More cows.

One of the now grown-up babies. I see this little one follow his dad around. I don’t know the fate of the others. One day, I saw a cat in the little area in which they hang out. I ran downstairs, shooed it away and immediately worried about the babies. And worried. Until I had to let go and just hope they all made it. Truly, I am not far from being a person who would pitch a tent and act as a sentry to protect the babies from all predators. Ask my husband. I am inches away from being ‘that Bird Lady.’ Feel free to substitute dog, cat, bunny, baby groundhog, chipmunk. They all work.

I’m packing boxes. Making lists. Getting ready to fly home on Sunday.

Winding Down

June 15, 2011 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Last night, I watched this movie on my laptop. Pillow Talk has always been one of my favorites and when I saw it on sale for half off at Barnes and Noble, I snapped it up. Doris Day and Rock Hudson are such fun in this movie. Everything about Pillow Talk is retro: the shared telephone party line that is a source of conflict, the “it’s okay for a man to sleep around and use women but a good woman must remain virginal” theme, the 60’s sets, the fabulous views of Manhattan, Thelma Ritter’s repeated hangovers from drinking too much. Much of it would be considered terribly un-politically correct nowadays.

But, it’s funny. It makes me laugh. I love the split-screen technique used during all the party line phone calls. I love the sound of horse hoofs hitting the ground with a bit of old Western harmonica thrown in that plays while Rock Hudson is pretending to be a cowboy from Texas. It’s a gem of a movie.

My friend, Bob, who was my boss at Boston University and who recommended me for this job, just arrived in town. So on Monday, the Artistic Director of the theater (who is also the director of Blithe Spirit) invited me to dinner at his home. Bob is staying there while he starts his design work. It was just the four of us: David, his wife, Bob and me. Lots of great conversation and laughter. I had the best time.

Things are winding down here. Today we have an afternoon rehearsal outdoors and in true Blithe Spirit tradition, rain is pouring down at the moment. Looks like an all day rain. Uh oh. I teach this morning and tomorrow morning and then my classes are done. Thursday night we have our second preview performance of Blithe Spirit and then we open on Saturday. Sunday? I pack and fly home. I’m just now letting myself remember my home, the smell of my doggies, Scoutie sitting under my legs in her ‘tunnel,’ Riley’s sweet face, the sound of Don’s guitar, sitting on the porch glider, my (overgrown, I’m absolutely sure) garden, my studio, sitting on the sofa with Don every evening. I let myself think about these things for a brief moment in time.

Soon.

8 Hours in Boston

One Last Post from the Road

Winding Down

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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