The Civil War at Ford's Theater

We are going to plays at every theater in D.C. this year. Saturday was Ford's Theater. This is the same theater in which Lincoln was shot as the Civil War ended.  They have refurbished it and it is quite lovely. Our choice of plays was one with Lincoln or Civil War, the Musical. Who could resist such an amusing name? We have been looking at other shows, like (and I kid you not) Call of the Wild, the Musical.  No, we're not seeing that.  The great north country doesn't speak to me as the Civil War has lately.

 
Look how intimate this theater is. We were in the second row of the balcony. And this was our view. The stage is behind the band. The stairs lead down to a lower stage with a portion of the stage that rotates around the band stand. So there could be a bit of action amongst all the songs. This was more opera than musical. Lincoln's words were often shown on the scrim on the upper stage. There were also pictures of slaves at work and soldiers, alive and dead.

We all had our favorite characters. Eric liked the woman we called Sally the Slut. I'm sure the front of her blouse would have closed if she tried. Instead, we got to watch her bra and a mass of skin whenever she came on the stage. I liked watching the cute little Union soldier above. He is singing about a letter to his father just before he went off to die. I'm wondering if I would have liked it better if they had compiled songs from the era. Instead, this is all new songs in that vein. The singers were all very good, even Ms. Sally. Huge focus on slavery as opposed to state's rights. But, I guess, state's rights was always code for slavery anyway.

This is us by Lincoln's box. I am on the stair above. Anything to be taller than Cindy. As I said, this is a small theater. You can see how Booth jumped to the stage after the deed was done. 

Across the street is the house where Lincoln died. They moved him from Ford Theater, but I suppose that is obvious. These are beautiful old houses. Next door is a cute little Bistro. We have three other events on the calendar for April and May. And we will be going out to see the Cherry Blossoms any day, probably tomorrow. They should be at their peak then.  

So much to do, so much time. I am off this week and then will begin three weeks work for a variety of Garys - Mather and Cubbage. That will all end in a nick of time as Adrian arrives the next day. What a delight. All that and Spring is busting out all over.

Do you know it was two years ago almost exactly that I arrived in India. Two years. Time flies. I'd say that in Latin if I was sure I could spell it correctly. I still remember fondly that time and all the people I met. Namaste to you all.