You may get the impression from reading my blog that all I do here in Durham is go to sporting events at Duke. Admittedly the scale does tip in that direction, but in the last week we evened it out a bit. Here's a quick look at some our more culturally based outings.
MEMPHIS -The Musical - The Durham Performing Arts Center is a large theater in downtown Durham that brings in large touring shows and big named performers(much like Proctors in Schenectady). It seats about 2800. We went to see the Tony award winning musical Memphis - The Musical.(so titled to distinguish it from Memphis - The . . ?) All I can say is that it must have been a slow year for musicals for this to win the Tony. The book covers territory seen before(try Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and just about any other musical using the 50s and 60s as a backdrop). It follows the rise and fall of a "red-necked Cracker DJ"(the plays description not mine) as he brings black music to the masses, falls in love with a black woman, kisses her on local TV, but can't leave Memphis because "he is Memphis"(?) when her career takes off. The play ends with him still a DJ, but on a 3rd rate station "way up on the end of the dial."
The performances and the music were the redeeming qualities of the musical. Bryan Fenkart and Felicia Boswell have the leads. Ms Boswell has a "big" voice and Mr. Fenkart has just the right "twang" to make their roles engaging regardless of how stereotyped. Throw in some smart dancing and good ensemble work and you can almost make it past the trite script.
AVANTE - The first Sunday I attended the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church a group called Avante sang. It is an a capella double quartet which sings jazz arrangements of a broad spectrum of music. I was very impressed.(So impressed that I decided to join the church choir) So when we had a chance to see them in concert, I took Nan out on a date. The concert began with a group of high schoolers from Chapel Hill called Lucky 13. This all-female group presented several numbers. I was impressed by their composure and the quality of their arrangements. The songs were not familiar to me, and both Nan and I had trouble understanding the lyrics. It always amazes me when I see the quality and talents of kids.
Avante's performance was on a whole different level. They did two sets: one which could best be described as of traditional folk and the other more contemporary. They were spectacular. Great balance and variety in their presentations. Nan and I particularly liked "Silence of Time" by Caprice Fox, "A Boy and A Girl" by Eric Whitacre, and "Cells, Planets" arranged by Vince Peterson. The groups founder Kevin Badanes arranged or wrote five of the numbers. His arrangements were creative and musically interesting. I felt like I was in a little club in NYC. A great night of music. If you'd like to listen to Avante try - When I Fall Youtube.wmv.(Great arrangement - Kevin's- Great sound)
CYMBELINE - Duke Performances presented a version of this Shakespeare play performed by the Fiasco Theater. Fiasco was founded in 2007 by graduates of the Brown University/Trinity Rep acting program. As Nan is a graduate of Trinity Rep, we thought it would be a good idea to see what the old alma mater is turning out these days. We can report that it was a fine, energetic, well-acted adaptation. They had fun with it - even fluffs were done in character.(At one point a hat fell into the audience to which the character merely said "Now I've gone and lost my hat!"). The troop played multiple roles with the clear distinctions as to character. They were clear and non-confusing(even in the final scene where all the characters showed up). It's always good to see a Shakespeare that's done clearly and with good acting.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Exploring
There are a great many points of interest in the Durham area, and we decided it was time to start visiting a few of them.
Bennett Place - This historic site is located in Durham and is the scene of the largest surrender of the Civil War. The surrender took place on April 17, 1865 in the parlor of a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett. Gen. William T. Sherman was pushing north to combine with Grant in Virginia and chasing General Joseph Johnston's confederate troops through North Carolina. The generals met at Bennett's farm to discuss a surrender. Just before they were to sign the surrender Sherman got word of the assassination of Lincoln a fact he did not disclose to his troops for fear that would riot and loot Raliegh. Sherman's terms were more generous than those given to Lee by Grant. As a result they were rejected by the politicians in Washington. When Johnston and Sherman went back to the negotiating table they were joined by the Confederate VP John Breckinridge who wanted Johnston to reject the terms and continue fighting. Breckinridge left taking with him the Confederate cavalry to help Jefferson Davis escape the Union forces. Johnston had seen enough fighting and signed the surrender, which followed the terms Grant had set forth. Johnston and Sherman remained friends with Johnston being an honorary pall bearer at Sherman's funeral.
Occoneechee Speedway Trail - This a 44 acre site which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The park surrounds the former Occoneechee/Orange Speedway which was used from 1948 - 1968. Still remaining on the site are a few of the buildings and grandstands used for the races. There are 3 miles of trails including the one-mile dirt oval used for the racing. If you missed the second turn you could easily end up in the Eno River. More information about the raceway can be obtained at www.historicspeedwaygroup.org.
Washington Duke Homestead - This is state historic site which features the house Washington Duke built for his second wife, Artelia, in 1852. The Dukes are the founders of the American Tobacco Compant and, of course, Duke University. The Dukes lived in the house until 1874 when they moved into Durham to oversee their expanding tobacco empire. The brightleaf tobacco produced by Duke was the foundation of the Duke wealth. The site includes a tobacco curing barn, factory, tobacco packhouse,and other out-buildings. Also at the site is a museum which reviews the history of the tobacco industry(no smoking on premises).
Alamance Battleground - The backcountry of North Carolina was a hot-bed of anti-British feeling prior to the Revolutionary War. This anti-British feeling resulted in armed confrontations with British authorities. The colony's governor Tryon(later governor of New York) finally decided to take action against the troublemakers. In May of 1771 a militia force of approximately 1000 met an armed band of Regulators of about 2000 at Alamance. The Regulators were not well organized and were routed by the militia. The militia suffered 9 killed, but there is no official documentation concerning the Regulators losses.(London newspapers reported the battle stating 300 Regulators were killed). The site features a small visitors center and a nature trail badly in need of repair.
Also on the Alamance site is the Allen House. This house dates from about 1780. It remained in the Allen family until given to the state and moved to the Allmance site. It stands as an excellent example of an 18th century frontier house. Since we were the only people at the site on the day we visited, the historical interpreter gave us a tour of the house and discussed what was known of the inhabitants. The house had been in the Allen family from two centuries and as a result some of the original furniture remained on display. It's not often you get to see a 18th century house with some of the original furniture. The interpreter was also kind enough to give Nan a copy of the herb remedy book compiled by Rachael Allen, who was described as a "Traveling Healer."
Bennett Place - This historic site is located in Durham and is the scene of the largest surrender of the Civil War. The surrender took place on April 17, 1865 in the parlor of a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett. Gen. William T. Sherman was pushing north to combine with Grant in Virginia and chasing General Joseph Johnston's confederate troops through North Carolina. The generals met at Bennett's farm to discuss a surrender. Just before they were to sign the surrender Sherman got word of the assassination of Lincoln a fact he did not disclose to his troops for fear that would riot and loot Raliegh. Sherman's terms were more generous than those given to Lee by Grant. As a result they were rejected by the politicians in Washington. When Johnston and Sherman went back to the negotiating table they were joined by the Confederate VP John Breckinridge who wanted Johnston to reject the terms and continue fighting. Breckinridge left taking with him the Confederate cavalry to help Jefferson Davis escape the Union forces. Johnston had seen enough fighting and signed the surrender, which followed the terms Grant had set forth. Johnston and Sherman remained friends with Johnston being an honorary pall bearer at Sherman's funeral.
Washington Duke Homestead - This is state historic site which features the house Washington Duke built for his second wife, Artelia, in 1852. The Dukes are the founders of the American Tobacco Compant and, of course, Duke University. The Dukes lived in the house until 1874 when they moved into Durham to oversee their expanding tobacco empire. The brightleaf tobacco produced by Duke was the foundation of the Duke wealth. The site includes a tobacco curing barn, factory, tobacco packhouse,and other out-buildings. Also at the site is a museum which reviews the history of the tobacco industry(no smoking on premises).
Alamance Battleground - The backcountry of North Carolina was a hot-bed of anti-British feeling prior to the Revolutionary War. This anti-British feeling resulted in armed confrontations with British authorities. The colony's governor Tryon(later governor of New York) finally decided to take action against the troublemakers. In May of 1771 a militia force of approximately 1000 met an armed band of Regulators of about 2000 at Alamance. The Regulators were not well organized and were routed by the militia. The militia suffered 9 killed, but there is no official documentation concerning the Regulators losses.(London newspapers reported the battle stating 300 Regulators were killed). The site features a small visitors center and a nature trail badly in need of repair.
Also on the Alamance site is the Allen House. This house dates from about 1780. It remained in the Allen family until given to the state and moved to the Allmance site. It stands as an excellent example of an 18th century frontier house. Since we were the only people at the site on the day we visited, the historical interpreter gave us a tour of the house and discussed what was known of the inhabitants. The house had been in the Allen family from two centuries and as a result some of the original furniture remained on display. It's not often you get to see a 18th century house with some of the original furniture. The interpreter was also kind enough to give Nan a copy of the herb remedy book compiled by Rachael Allen, who was described as a "Traveling Healer."
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