Theatre Review: Fiddler on the Roof

When the stage musical (1964) Fiddler on the Roof came out as a movie in 1971, I was in  junior high school.  If I recall correctly, my cousin (hi, cuz), who was older and wiser than I, panned the movie, “It’s just a bunch of girls wanting to get married”.  Maybe it was her future aspirations to save the world in the Peace Corp that had her thinking more like  Perchik, the university student from Kiev who considers social justice more important than love until he meets Hodel and sings a duet “Now I Have Everything”. Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself with marrying off the second daughter.  Let me back up to clarify that we trekked out of the mountains to the Free State Valley to see the Spring Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, at the Fresta Valley Christian School.

Brown Sign: Belle Grove

Vicar’s Dad and Momma Suzanna arrived on the East Coast this week.  Time for some Brown Sign touring.  Between Dulles Airport and the mountains lies the Shenandoah Valley, which hosts many Brown Sign locations.  We stopped at Belle Grove, which is a manor home adjoining the Cedar Creek National Historic Park.  Of the original 140,000 acre land grant to Isaac Hite, about 250 acres are persevered around the house.  This takes us back to the 18^th century for the history of the people and the house. 

Theatre Review: Music Man

An essential element of being a good performer is your audience’s willingness to believe in your performance.  This principle applies, whether the relationship is the actors in the theatre, the salesman on the pitch, or the lover going courting.  Come, see Arena Stage’s production of Music Man, and they will have you believing in all three.

Great American Documents: The Harrison Land Act of 1800

We are all pretty familiar with the progression of the settlement of the USA from the eastern seaboard colonies to the western frontier.  Populations increased, and moved toward the Appalachian Mountains, then into the Ohio valley, Mississippi River land, and Great Lakes regions.  Before “Go West, young man”, the land had to be secured.   While 18^th century maps show the boundaries of eastern states going left into the unknown blank regions, the lands beyond the mountains were not officially part of the United States.  Native American cultures, French, English and Spanish interest claimed various regions.  Two land acquisitions brought much of the middle section of the country into the boundaries of the USA: The Harrison Land Act, May 10, 1800 and the Louisiana Purchase, May 2, 1803.

Primary Voting, The Protest Vote

As a citizen and registered voter, I feel as beat up as the candidates this presidential primary season.  While the Democratic party quietly polishes up for a re-election race, the Republican’s berated us with nearly two dozen “debates” before the first votes.  Then the SuperPAC’s eviscerated each Republican candidate.  While everyone has failings, I did not need these directed at me like projectile political vomit.  Then, less than half way into  the primary election season, Romney claims inevitable victory, Santorum stands for true values, Gingrich’s empire files for bankruptcy, and Paul lurks in the shadows.  And, now, May 8th, West Virginia’s primary election is upon us.  I take my civic duty seriously.  How shall I vote?

Concert Review: A Passion for Classics

If you asked most people what are three elements of music, you might get the answers “melody”, “cords”, and “rhythm”.  Maybe add “lyrics” as a fourth element.  I would say, “physics”, ”mathematics”, and “passion”.  At the Fresta Valley Christian School’s recent Orchestra & Choir Concert at the Landes Center for the Performing Arts in Petersburg, WV, all of these would be the right answer, with an emphasis on “passion”.

Brown Sign: Rock Hounds in NC

Our cousin had selected Franklin, NC as our destination this year because we all enjoy geology.  Rock Hounds is the title for this hobby.   Last year I wrote about our visits to a couple of regional mineral museums, which present the geology of the region and history of mining in the mountains of North Carolina.  This year we set out to get grubby and find our own gems.