Katzenerin, or Erin and the Boys

“Who’s the little person sitting in the Big Guy’s chair?”

“Don’t know, but she hasn’t fed us since she got here.  I say we stare at her until she does.”

Pilobolus, the Acrobatic Gymnastic Contortionist Tumbling Choreographed-Seizure Shadow-Puppetry and Occasional Dance Company

Saturday we fired another salvo in the Kulturkampf as we went back to the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL (University of Missouri – St. Louis) for a performance of Pilobolus, the dance company, not Pilobolus, the cowpie-dwelling phototropic zygomycete.

This ain’t your father’s dance company. Pilobolus has been round since the seventies, blazing the trail in weight-sharing choreography unlike anything I’ve seen outside of Cirque Du Soleil (and Pilobolus is at least 10 years older).

The most notable characteristic of a Pilobolus work is the way the dancers flow together to form many-limbed multicellular creatures capable of moving around the stage in weird and wonderful ways, and then dissolve back into individuals.

The first work performed was Lanterna Magica (2008), an ethereal piece involving fireflies captured in a lantern.

 

Then came Pseudopodia, a 1973 golden oldie, performed by a single dancer.

Next was Darkness and Light, a 2008 shadow play wherein microscopic creatures floated and monsters loomed.

After the intermission, we saw Ocellus, a Pilobolus standard since 1972, consisting of four male dancers in positions that made it important to avoid foods prone to cause wind.

Megawatt (2004) was my favorite. I saw the human body do things I didn’t know it could do. Check it out at the Pilobolus web site if you have time. I can’t link directly to it, but select Menu-Works-Active Repertoire and scroll down to Megawatt. For that matter, the entire site is interesting.

In the What-Were-These-People-Thinking Department, there was a guy behind me who started the performance by pretending he was a 900-pound owl and screaming “Whoo!” at inappropriate times. At one point, he shouted “Watch out!” at the top of his lungs, as though he was at the movies and the dancer was about to go into the scary house.

Pilobolus, the dance company, not Pilobolus, the cowpie-dwelling phototropic zygomycete, should be seen at every opportunity. We’ll be on the lookout for their next St. Louis performance.

- Poppa

Tequila Mockingbird

Actually, no tequila this weekend so far, I’m just drolling.

Saturday, Nan and I went to see a stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird at Washington University’s Edison Theater.  I love any live performance of anything.  As far as I’m concerned, anybody getting up in front of a live audience and putting it on the line deserves respect and encouragement, no matter the “quality” of their production.  That being said (heh); the quality of this production was outstanding.  The sets, costumes, and acting were all above par.

After the performance, Mary Badham, the woman who played Scout in the 1962 film, was on hand to speak briefly about the social issues raised in the book and to answer questions about her role in the movie.  That was a treat.  In the Department of Small Worlds, there was a woman in the audience who turned out to be one of Badham’s teachers when she was a kid in Alabama.

After the play, we went to LemmonGrass for Com Tay Cam Tom (Shrimp Rice in Hot Pot).  I’ve been going to Vietnamese restaurants for over 20 years and I’ve always gotten the same thing, Bun Cha Gio (Vermicelli Noodles with Egg Rolls).  This is possibly my longest mono-ethno-food run to date.  It only took me a couple of years each to move beyond Chicken with Almonds and Pad Thai and start exploring the rest of the Chinese and Thai menus.

 Com Tay Cam Tom

We read a description of the hot pot concept in Sauce, our local foodie weekly, and decided to try it.  The secret surprise at the bottom of the pot is crispy rice.  Aficionados of Sizzling Rice Soup (yes, I’m talking to YOU, Leah) will love this dish.  I predict it won’t be the last time we have it.

Kyle John and Kevin James, “The Boys”

Last weekend, Jim, Ingrid, and The Boys came down to The ‘Lou for a visit.  It was wonderful to see them again.  We spent quality time eating, watching inspirational movies (The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou), playing Cranium, and just talking.  The Boys are well on their way to becoming the tallest Thompsons in history.

- Poppa

“Let’s achieve even more supremacy”

Sometimes I miss the no-nonsense-take-no-prisoners style of the old Soviet Union.   Fortunately, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is still around to buzzkill and bewilder.

From the Times Online.

North Korean Motivational Posters

A London exhibition of hand-painted North Korean posters features some unexpected slogans.

“Let’s create a social impetus for enjoying wearing our national dress”
“Let’s grow more sunflowers!”
“Let’s take revenge a thousand times on the US imperialist wolves!”

“Nobody in the world can defeat us!”
“Let’s expand goat rearing and create more grassland in accordance with the party!”
“Just as it began, the revolution advances and is victorious, through the barrel of a gun.”

“Let’s be invincible in every fight.”
“Let’s achieve even more supremacy.”
“Let’s make wearing the beautiful and elegant Korean dress a lifestyle.”

“The reunified fatherland is at the tip of our bayonets.”
“Let’s breed more high-yielding fish.”
“In all institutions and workplaces, let’s popularise basketball.”

“Let’s not forget the blood-drenched hatred!” (regarding The Korean War — or the Great Fatherland Liberation War — as it is known in the North)
“The world turns with Korea as its axis.”
“Our missile program is a guarantee for world peace and security.”

- Poppa