"Clarinets and Accessories"

You got it in one, pal!

Bloggers Kate Hoff and Chris Kidder have both commented on the Blog*Spot banner ads that appear at the tops of their blogs. I hadn't noticed mine until this morning, when the above peeked out at me. *Spot on! I consider myself an essential (bass) clarinet accessory -- where would my horn be without its bellows? And where would I be without its seductive low murmerings in my ear?

Had a highly enjoyable Monday night at the Fringe. At the BLB, I huddled around the fire, entranced by its flickerings and the deft use of language, gesture, and expression by Todd Conner as he regaled us with tales from Ovid's Metamorphoses. I had some trepidation that, not being steeped in the classics, these tales might be over my head. Howver, Todd brought to life legends and goddesses and gods with whom I had previously had only a passing acquaintance. He periodically plucked a lyre and sang melodies that were in keeping with his tales. But his best instrument is his spellbinding, tale-weaving speaking voice. If you were enchanted by Charlie Bethel's "Beowulf" in 2002 or 2003, or if you just love language and storytelling, go immerse yourself in Todd's and Ovid's stories!

Next, I went to Fringe Central and enjoyed several good conversations and some good music, provided by Ochen K. Fringe Central is a great concept -- it's delightful to talk Fringe shop with friends and strangers.

Capped off the evening with a delightful visit with a pod of brothers and sisters from another planet: Jon Ferguson channeled David Byrne's offbeat sensibilities in Everything and Nothing All at the Same Time, and provided us with some of Byrne's latest music as well. As we left the theater, Jane mused that, though she couldn't pin down the concept of "fringe", she was sure that this was the Fringiest show she had seen so far -- something that you just won't see in other theater venues. She delighted in the cast's frequent forays through the fourth wall, as I did. Go learn something about the uniqueness of the human condition, as inquisitive aliens try to figure out what our emotions are all about.

I had been intrigued by an earlier Fringe preview of "Everything and Nothing", where I learned that Jon had flown over from England and recruited a local cast for this play. Then I had a chance encounter with one of the cast members yesterday, after a play at another venue. Blythe was initally completely puzzled (behaving much like her alien character!) by my out-of-context query: "Have you discovered any emotions yet?" Then she told me that, shortly after Jon's arrival, they had seen David Byrne perform at the Walker's Rock the Garden, which provided inspiration for their play. This spirit of adventure and improvisation was carried right up through showtime, as they had audience members write out definitions of several emotions, which they used during the performance. I highly recommend this piece -- it's funny and immediate and offbeat and thought-provoking: Pure Fringe.

Oh, I almost forgot to metion another music tie-in: In an earlier blog, I had mentioned Devil's Tower and mashed potato sculptures. Well, "Everything and Nothing" brought me another close encounter of the Fringe kind, as one of the characters picked up a brass euphonium (an instrument that looks like a small tuba) and played the 5-note communication ice-breaker from the mother ship. I laughed aloud -- what a hoot!