O Brave New World...

On Saturday, Doug and I met up with our friends M&M to go to Bethesda to see The Tempest at Round House Theater.  Adapted from Shakespeare's original by Teller (of Penn and Teller fame) and Aaron Posner, you may know it very well for the line "O brave new world that has such people in't."  

In case you need a rundown/reminder of the story, it is the classic tale of the deposed Duke of Milan Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, shipwrecked for years on an island with a "monster" called Caliban and a spirit Prospero holds against its will to do his bidding named Ariel. 

Prospero learns that a ship full of those who did him wrong will be coming by the island. Among those on board are his brother, his dick of a brother, Antonio, who stole his dukedom, and the King of Naples, Alonso. Prospero causes a storm, the "Tempest" of the title, and he has big plans for them. 

Shenanigans ensue, from Prospero manipulating what the shipwreck victims see and experience thanks to his sprite Ariel. Caliban, the monster who believes the island is his by rights and Prospero has stolen it from him, meets up with the ship's kitchen crew, Trinculo and Stephano. Caliban discovers booze thanks to Stephano and then and there decides he will no longer serve Prospero, making Stephano his lord and king. The King of Naples and his brother (Sebastian), the false duke Antonio, and Gonzalo (Gonzala in this performance) are looking everywhere for the King's son Ferdinand. They finally decide he must have drowned and is gone. Antonio convinces Sebastian that they should kill the king (and Gonzala) so Sebastian can become King of Naples. 

And Ferdinand and Miranda fall madly in love. 

In the end (no spoiler alert on a play that is hundreds of years old) all the chaos pulls together. There is a beautiful magical wedding, Prospero reveals himself to the shipwrecked, he forgives his jerk brother Antonio and the King of Milan, is reunited with Gonzala, the only person who showed him kindness when they were sent into exile. 

He reveals Ferdinand and Miranda are now married, and then everything is put right in the world. 

Prospero fulfills his promise to release Ariel, and it is presumed everyone lives happily ever after. Huzzah! 

This production was tremendously done, with an added element of actual magic tricks courtesy of Mr. Teller and executed wonderfully. The magic was perfect. Ariel's lines are interspersed with card tricks and flinging cards all around when frustrated. The wedding scene includes a wonderful floating Miranda on the altar. When Ariel presses Prospero for their freedom, Prospero puts them in a barrel and spins them around, twisting the spirit's body around like a wet rag. Classic magic tricks abound, and the visual presentation mixed with the story were outstanding. 

One of the things I loved was the references to Prospero's staff. In all the other versions of the play I've seen, Prospero has a huge stick, sometimes adorned with a crystal ball at the top with scarves looking like seaweed. Here, it is a simple magic wand. I really liked that.

Another thing I loved was the band they had playing. The music and the two vocalists singing were just amazing. It was like watching a Shakespeare Play, magic show, and witnessing a Decemberists concert all at once. 

The video below features the actor/magician who played Ariel, and he was just spectacular. So good. 

I would tell DC area folks to go see it but today's the last performance. You can get it on Streaming video if you want, I believe until February 9th if you visit the Round House Theater page.  And you should do that. 

If you are so inclined. 

After the show we walked over to a restaurant Doug had picked for us, since M&M live in Frederick, and aren't too familiar with a lot of spots yet. Bethesda is a little upscale, and has tons of restaurants. I was slightly disappointed in the craft locals on draught, they had lots of bottles and cans though. We had a fantastic meal, and it was a super fun night out. 

On the way home I suggested to Doug that we try to go to the brewery that opened really close to our house, about two and a half miles away. The place was packed, hugely packed. But they have a beautiful outdoor space with fire pits, two or three groups were outside, it was an almost perfect night. Inside we got a table luckily and had a couple beers before heading home. The beer was alright - not the greatest, but the space is pretty nice. I'd like to go back when it is less crowded. I guess that's what I get for going to a small space brewery on a Saturday night. 

Today is a big nothing day, I slept late, and now Doug is napping. Geoff went to the market, and there is football to be watched. 

Digits below. This is the external mural on the brewery. Kind of cool the way the window is in the midst of things so you can look inside. 

digits

exercise: pfth.

blood glucose:
11:30am: 125
5pm: 162
10pm: 173

food:
coffee, water
12pm: burned pizza cheese thanks to geoff's pizza bagel (so yummy)
12:45pm: metformin
3pm - banana bread, maybe more than 1 piece (3 to be exact)
6:30pm: bowl of chili w/ shredded cheddar, fritos, sour cream