This weekend I discovered not only the first of the area's Oktoberfest celebrations, but also our newly developed National Harbor.
Oktoberfest is an activity for beer-drinking groups whether the group members drink in moderation or excess. There were two kinds of tickets: regular or VIP. Regular ticket holders are given 6 chips for the price of admission and a plastic mug. Each chip buys the drinker 2 oz of a taste of beer. VIP members pay $20 per ticket but have unlimited tastes of beer and their cup is filled up to 6 oz per taste. The event was filled with 20 somethings and was sprinkled with attendees in costume. There were vending booths who might have sold goods, but the populace there was, without a doubt, there for the beer. Bratwurst and knockwurst were sold in addition to potato pancakes and regular fair food. To get there, you could drive and park, take the water taxi from Alexandria, or take a taxi from anywhere nearby. The water taxi is a pleasant but pricey experience compared to drive and park, but worth taking once.
The real treat of the event being at the National Harbor was the harbor itself. Maryland had invested in creating an attraction, and succeeded. Cirque du Soleiel has chosen to stage this year's Washington DC area show at the Harbor, and people from all around go to the National Harbor for shopping and eating on the waterfront. There are even public bathrooms that are well-maintained and a beach with a statue of Poseidon lying in the sand.
I did not remember my camera for this event, but I encourage readers to Google search the National Harbor in Maryland, and if you haven't been there, give it a try. There is plenty of pleasant walking space, as well as a nice area for shopping and eating. I plan to take out of town visitors there!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Signature Theater Cabaret: 4 Stars!
There are two things that make a cabaret great: a good music selection, and great talent. The first of the new cabaret series, The Lost Songs Of Broadway, 1950-1960 featured many songs that were omitted from musicals or were written for musicals that never got to the stage. As the singers point out, that doesn't mean the songs aren't good. The combination of songs tonight included humor, sentiment, secrets, sadness, and almost always, love. What made these songs great were the three powerhouse voices that sang the songs.
There were two women and a young man, a soprano, a mezzo-soprano/alto, and a tenor. The soprano, Erin Driscoll, has a soaring powerful soprano that is widely heard without being shrill. And Erin applies a healthy dose of acting so that you really get the feeling of the song.
The mezzo, Sherri Edelen, is an experienced singer with humor, versatile mood singing, and joyous ease.
The young tenor, Jake Odmark, is a welcome returning face to Signature. He gets appropriately into the mood of the songs, which has presented difficulty for past tenors. He also enjoys the female company that he sings with.
Every song was sung well and the pianist also applied clever and entertaining accompaniment.
The question on my mind, now and always, is why the young sophisticates of the area have not yet learned to enjoy the cabarets at Signature. If the joy of great singing isn't enough, any audience member can bring wine and a cheese board, dinner, or dessert into the theater -- as long as you buy it there.
For those of you with a sense of adventure for culture, I urge you to buy tickets to the cabaret. You will not be disappointed!
There were two women and a young man, a soprano, a mezzo-soprano/alto, and a tenor. The soprano, Erin Driscoll, has a soaring powerful soprano that is widely heard without being shrill. And Erin applies a healthy dose of acting so that you really get the feeling of the song.
The mezzo, Sherri Edelen, is an experienced singer with humor, versatile mood singing, and joyous ease.
The young tenor, Jake Odmark, is a welcome returning face to Signature. He gets appropriately into the mood of the songs, which has presented difficulty for past tenors. He also enjoys the female company that he sings with.
Every song was sung well and the pianist also applied clever and entertaining accompaniment.
The question on my mind, now and always, is why the young sophisticates of the area have not yet learned to enjoy the cabarets at Signature. If the joy of great singing isn't enough, any audience member can bring wine and a cheese board, dinner, or dessert into the theater -- as long as you buy it there.
For those of you with a sense of adventure for culture, I urge you to buy tickets to the cabaret. You will not be disappointed!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Chess Musical in Shirlington
The new musical season has begun at Signature Theater, and my first show was "Chess". You may remember that "Chess" was first staged in 1986, and the song "One Night in Bangkock" became a hit. The musical, up against "Cats", "Phantom of the Opera", and other big hits, did not survive on Broadway in New York City. The benefit of a theater like Signature in Shirlington is that good musicals -- unique shows -- can have their chance to be seen.
My first observation about this musical was the obvious talent that was hired for the cast. In a theater as small as the one in Signature, every audience member sees the detail of anger in the eye, and hardness of the firm-set mouth. There were so many times that the cast conveyed the feeling so well, that the man who sat next to me became uncomfortable! He wasn't accustomed to being so close to so much passion.
Unlike some easy-going musicals of earlier eras, "Chess" is edgy, full of songs from angst-ridden people. It is, after all, set during the Cold War. And the chess match that the musical's name is based on is between a Soviet and American. As if that rivalry isn't enough, the American's "second", an attractive blond woman, has a love affair with the Soviet player. All the conflict and passion that theater lovers go to see is based on these three characters; and the actors put everything they have into the show. Sparks fly and emotions run wild!
A final nod to the audience that the song writers put together are the background songs for each major character. The Soviet sings about what its like to be an ambitous player controlled by his nation; the American male sings about why he's such a jerk -- his terrible childhood; and the woman sings about how she got herself into a situation that she hates -- and how hard it is to get out of it.
In the grand finale, you see the struggle for happiness and the strain it puts on the three main characters. I could hear audience members sitting behind me sniffling back their tears by the time the actors came out to take their bow.
Last time I saw "Chess" was in London, in 1986. The musical has waited a long time to return to the stage, and I am glad to see it back. If you like musicals and don't want to pay a lot of money, try Chess. You will not be disappointed.
My first observation about this musical was the obvious talent that was hired for the cast. In a theater as small as the one in Signature, every audience member sees the detail of anger in the eye, and hardness of the firm-set mouth. There were so many times that the cast conveyed the feeling so well, that the man who sat next to me became uncomfortable! He wasn't accustomed to being so close to so much passion.Unlike some easy-going musicals of earlier eras, "Chess" is edgy, full of songs from angst-ridden people. It is, after all, set during the Cold War. And the chess match that the musical's name is based on is between a Soviet and American. As if that rivalry isn't enough, the American's "second", an attractive blond woman, has a love affair with the Soviet player. All the conflict and passion that theater lovers go to see is based on these three characters; and the actors put everything they have into the show. Sparks fly and emotions run wild!
A final nod to the audience that the song writers put together are the background songs for each major character. The Soviet sings about what its like to be an ambitous player controlled by his nation; the American male sings about why he's such a jerk -- his terrible childhood; and the woman sings about how she got herself into a situation that she hates -- and how hard it is to get out of it.
In the grand finale, you see the struggle for happiness and the strain it puts on the three main characters. I could hear audience members sitting behind me sniffling back their tears by the time the actors came out to take their bow. Last time I saw "Chess" was in London, in 1986. The musical has waited a long time to return to the stage, and I am glad to see it back. If you like musicals and don't want to pay a lot of money, try Chess. You will not be disappointed.
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