On Novemebr 2nd we went to Reynolds Theater on the Duke campus to see a a performance by Meredith Monk entitled "Education of the Girlchild Revisited". Her bio describes her as a composer, singer, director/choreographer, etc. She is said to be a pioneer in what is called "extended vocal technique". It was an experience that I don't feel I have to repeat in this lifetime. Ms. Monk has won many prestigious awards, and been acclaimed world-wide. Her presentations are just is not the type of performance art I find enjoyable.
The next night I went to the Duke v. Clemson football game while Nan went to see a new play entitled "A Brave Woman in Mexico", which is opening in NYC this spring. The report on the footbal game - we lost(badly). Nan reported that the play needs work but that a panel discussion before hand was excellent.
My birthday weekend continued with a return to Cameron Indoor Stadium to see the women's basketball team play Queen University of Charlotte. It was another one-sided affair which we won by almost 100 points.
Our next event was the first round of the NCAA soccer tournement in which the Blue Devils faced a team from Loyola of Maryland, who were coached by a former Duke player, Katherine Remy Vettori. Her return was less than cordial as Duke won 6 - 0.
The next night we went to see Dar Williams and Loudon Wainwright III at the Carolina Theater in downtown Durham. It was a very enjoyable concert. Wainwright's father wrote a column in "Life" magazine and Loudon read some of them and used them as sources for his songs. (It would appear that he is working through some "father" issues - but then again who isn't.) If there was one thing that was a little unsettling about the concert, it was that there was a hum in the sound system. Otherwise it was great.
Even greater was the production of "Jersey Boys" we saw at DPAC. We've listened many times to the CD of the music and I actually thought it was more of a revue than a traditional musical. I was presntly surprise that the "book" was quite good. The guys playing "The Four Seasons" were great. The part of Franki Valli, played by Brad Weinstock, is extremely vocally demanding, but Weinstock handled it beautifully.
It was back to Cameron three days later for another women's basketball game. This time they played a Division I opponent - Iona. The results were very much the same however - a Duke victory 100 to 31.
This was the first year since we've been in Durham that we didn't go away for the Thanksgiving weekend.This year we had an invitation from our friends Jeff and Jane to join their family for dinner. It was a very nice time. The food was great and so the company. Jeff shared with us a treasure trove of old newspapers(and I mean old- 1840s) he found in a relatives attic. We spent a good deal of time reading them. History geek fun! Here are Jeff and Jane cutting the apple pie.
The last event of the month was a foorball game between Duke and Miami. For most of my life I spent Saturday afternoons watching college football on TV. It's been fun this year to actually go to games and see nationally ranked teams. I wish I could say we ended the season on a plus note, but, despite a spirited 4th quarter come-back, we lost. At least we're going to a bowl game for the first time since 1994.
This is the view from my season seat - Not bad, huh?
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