Dinner Companions

It’s exhausting, this play-going regime!  You’d think that one matinée and one evening performance with several (like five) hours between would not be too onerous.  Wrong!  At least with regard to the male two-thirds of our entourage. Thank goodness for the OSF Members’ Lounge!

Nyel at OSF

The cozy living room/bar just off the center courtyard (or “the bricks” as it is known) with its comfortable seating and private patio is the perfect answer for weary theater goers here at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  As far as I have ever seen, it is one of the best perks of membership and grossly under-utilized.  We had no trouble finding a seat and spent a dozy hour after dinner reading and relaxing.

We had seen “Yeoman of the Guard” at the Thomas Theater in the afternoon – a rollicking country-western adaptation of the lively Gilbert and Sullivan play.  It was an “interactive” performance with dozens audience members seated on stage and participating (sort of) in the action.

Charlie — Between Shows

We had that choice when ordering tickets last winter and I’m so glad we decided to get traditional seating!  Though it looked like fun, I’m not sure the full effect of the play could be experienced from that perspective.  Even so, I was exhausted after the show, though it ran just short of two hours.  It was exuberant to the max with things happening everywhere you looked.

In the evening, “Twelfth Night” was not quite so fast-paced, though it was set in 1930s Hollywood and included plenty of singing, dancing and Three-Stooges-like action throughout.  Plus, typical of Shakespeare, it ran four hours.  (Did I notice a bit of dozing by my companions???  Surely not…)

“Sleep fast!” we told each other.  I certainly did.  I just hope it was fast enough to get me through another play-filled day.  Plus, one of my favorite all-time OSF activities – the Backstage Tour.