Woodstock Choralaires present HMS Pinafore

This is not exactly travel, but still a great experience I'd like to share.

I was in the unusual circumstance of being a member of the Woodstock Choralaires but not being able to be in the chorus for the Saturday night performance of HMS Pinafore.  What a show!  I was overwhelmed with delight seeing and hearing the whole production.  Gilbert's brilliant lyrics and Sullivan's sumptuous tunes transported me to a tuneful nirvana.

The entire production was put together expertly.  An orchestra of 11 fine musicians, professional singers sang the leading parts, the chorus filled the hall with the most wonderful rich choral sound, and all directed by our rigorous and tireless director.

Director, Doug Shippey after the show

Everyone was having a great time: the orchestra, lead singers, chorus and audience were happy - enchanted by the rather ridiculous but completely charming story told in lyrics and music that are fresh and captivating still today.

The Orchestra rehearsing with Josephine (Janelle Murray)

This is not an opera of angst and conflict but about the foibles and absurdities in ourselves and the leaders of our time.  Many years ago when I was young and impressionable I read this graffiti on the restroom wall at the Isabella Hotel in Toronto, " Don't adjust your mind, the fault is with reality."  Gilbert and Sullivan were right on the mark for this sentiment.  They took the realities of their time and lampooned them.  Amazingly, the situations hold up well after a century.

The libretto lends itself to augmentation so that lyrics and dialogue can be added to reflect current times.  Josephine, the female lead, weighs the choice between marrying the admiral or the sailor by comparing her shopping options: Holt Renfrew vs. Wal-Mart.   The Admiral of the Queen's Navy gives instruction on how to rise in government.  In G&S times that depended on class, now it seems, it depends on being part of la famille Trudeau.

The Sailors of HMS Pinafore

To make HMS Pinafore joyous and amusing, a thoroughly dazzling experience, took incredible amounts of energy, quickness of mind and plain hard work.  Set, costumes, props, directions, management, and none of these have to do with the music and lyrics, which are both challenging.  It was all too easy to go gaily tripping over the words in the patter songs.

Admiral Porter's Sisters, Cousins and Aunts

The fact that the production looked relaxed with all the cast enjoying the performance indicates the amount of work, attention to detail and dedication that was expended.

So to be thoroughly entertained, charmed and delighted, treat yourself to a Gilbert and Sullivan opera now and again and do come to the Woodstock Choralaires' concerts and productions in the future for an enjoyable and sparkling choral experience.

By The Way:  A Bonus - Gilbert and Sullivan tunes stay with you, so you will hum them for days after the performance.

Back to California - La Jolla

Once again I am continuing my  love affair with California.  This year we decided to spend a few days in La Jolla in the north end of San Diego before we headed up to the Central Coast. 

Clear skies on the flight to LAX afforded spectacular views of the mountains and canyons in New Mexico and Arizona.

This year we planned to stay for almost 2 months so we picked our car up outside the airport, which saved on the cost.  We took the San Diego Freeway (405) south to Irvine to pick up Hwy 5, which follows the coast.  Of course California captivates me with the first row of palm trees and then it just gets better.

The coastal communities vary from the typical beach type with and eclectic mixture of low rise adobe and clapboard buildings to the higher end towns with beautiful architecture and lovely shops.  We stopped in Oceanside for lunch at the Hill Street Cafe and Gallery and had good food and a stimulating conversation with the owner about the native history of the area 10,000 years ago.

La Jolla  is an upscale part of San Diego with beautiful homes, good restaurants and the beach just down the road from our hotel.  We started our first morning at Ellen Browning Sports Park for a walk in the sun and to see the harbour seals.  There were about 50 sleeping on the rocks across the bay, a few swimming in the ocean feeding in the shallows. One lazy but playful fellow was lying on a smooth rock then he would slide off when a wave washed over him, haul himself back up and do it again.

Groups of human swimmers looked as if they were training for a triathlon by swimming out into the bay and around buoys, then back to the beach. They must be very tough because they were only wearing bathing suits even though the water temperature was around 60º F (16ºC).

This beautiful old park has gardens and a classic building housing the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club.

 At another park by the sea, we watched pelicans gliding just above the undulations of the ocean, exquisite performance and this magnificent specimen sight seeing just like us.

How wonderful to sit outside in the February sun and drink coffee and watch the passing scene at Pacific Beach.

By The Way: When you go to La Jolla, or anywhere in southern California, go to an authentic Mexican restaurant and treat yourselves to guacamole made right at your table.  Fantastic!