Semester Digest II - The Arts

       We had a busy time experiencing the cultural opportunities available both on campus and in the Durham area during the last months of the semester.
        Duke's music program has provided many excellent concerts during our stay in Durham.  This Fall was no exception. Duke spent quite a bit of money renovating Baldwin Auditorium.  When we got there 5 years ago it was looked a little like a 1930s high school auditorium.  The renovations are artistically pleasing and have created a great venue to hear concerts.  We attended both of the Fall Duke Jazz Ensemble concerts.  The first, at the end of October, featured trumpeter Willie Murillo and vocalist Becky Martin.  Both are from the west coast with Mr. Murillo having attended Cal State Fullerton, where daughter Erin works.  One of the nice things that conductor John Brown has done this year is to include some vocalists to sing some of the standards. The second concert featured Gerald Clayton on piano.  Mr. Clayton was outstanding.  He finished second in the Thelonius Monk Piano Competition and was nominated for a Grammy for best jazz solo for his recording to Cole Porter's "All of Me."
      One of the more interesting concerts we attended was the one presented by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.  It was great fun as this 8 member group did a variety of numbers with some very funny repartee interspersed.  Nothing like seeing "Shaft" done on ukuleles by 8 white folk or "Pinball Wizard" as a sea shanty.  It was great.  Had a smile on my face for the whole time.
      I had no smile on my face for a concert entitled "Specific Ocean" presented by a group named People Get Ready.  This indy rock group combines their music with dance (actually movement is a better word for what they do).  I just don't find  it entertaining watching a young woman running around the stage and through the audience with an electric guitar strapped to her back clanging and banging and emitting loud, cacophonous sounds.
      For our anniversary my kids had given us a gift certificate to the Durham Performing Arts Center.  This downtown 3,000 seat venue is the home to most touring Broadway shows and big name groups on the road.  We used our certificate to see Michael McDonald's Holiday Show.   Very entertaining.  Even got up and danced a little.
      As far as plays were concerned, we saw a very intriguing new work by British playwright Alice Birch.  Her play, Many Moons,  consists of 4 character monologues which are intricately woven together.  Structurally it was one of the most interesting play we've seen in a long time.  It was well acted and staged.  It is however about pedophilia and is tough in that regards.