Nana's Birthday

Last Friday was Nana's birthday, so we went over to celebrate with her and her friends.

It's funny how people treat you so nicely when you arrive with a sheet cake. Someone held the door. Everyone got out of the way. I am lucky no one followed me from the bakery.

It was a grand celebration. We sang Happy Birthday, and everyone had a piece of cake for dessert after lunch. Then, one by one they all went back to their rooms for a nap.

Now, while Nana does not hold the current record for the facility, we know she is close. What record you say? Let's just say the magic number is 96. (and still looking good!)

We few...we happy few...

...we band of brothers."

We had so many things going on in February, we have yet to post about the Shakespeare Competition at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Yes, here's John as Good King Hal reciting the St. Crispin's Day speech. Eat your heart out Kenneth Brannagh! John did a good job. We could hear him in the back and he was appropriately animated using the bench to address his men at one point. Although I am not sure if King Hal wore Chuck Taylors.

Either way it was great to see and hear John giving the mother of all pep talks. So here's King Harry and friends just about to slaughter the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Something about horses, heavy armor, mud and longbowmen on a hill.

Alice in Wonderland - 2

Did I say that Sarah played the Red Queen? Here she is with AJ as the king about to start the croquet match with Alice and the White Rabbit. The poor flamingos were the mallets.

Her performance was almost frightening, but thankfully Alice did not loose her head in the end.

Alice in Wonderland - 1

Here's Janine and John from last night's performance of Alice in Wonderland. Janine played the duck and John the Gryphon. Sarah was the Red Queen.

This was one Saltworks production that happened quickly. Rehearsals started in late January, performances this past weekend. Like last year's The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, the performance was in the undercroft of Church of the Ascension. The creative geniuses at Saltworks transform a plain fellowship hall into a true performance space with a stage, lighting and sound.

Today is the day after so everyone is suffering from post production let down. As Janine said, "what will we do now for three days a week?" Well I can think of many things, thank you very much!

12th Night - Malvolio

Sarah had a great time playing Malvolio in her friend Mathilda's production of 12th Night as a school project. Like most of Shakespeare's plays it featured cross-dressing, mistaken identity, and saucy humor. Who needs a car chase when you can laugh while an arrogant charter gets cut down to size.

The cast and crew included many Saltworks friends and regulars. Rehearsals started in the fall and the production fell in-between the Kennedy Center ballet performance, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre's Shakespeare Competition, and Saltworks' Alice in Wonderland. But these kids pulled it off with aplomb.