2009.3.28-29. Green Festival

2009.3.28-29. Seattle's 2nd Green Fest. I was only able to attend on Sunday afternoon. Heard Amy Goodman (pretty good), John Perkins (pretty lousy), a gardening talk, 3 short films (one on Iceland, a cartoon about a fridge, a documentary on the solar light project of Barefood College in Afghanistan). Investigated a couple of worm bins, ate lots Cliff bars, drank a bunch of colored/flavored water, bought some chocolate bars. In the picture (courtesy of A.C.) this costume is made of average # of plastic bags used pp annually. Surprised to see so many vendors of clothes. One booth was selling expensive handbags made of automobile tires!

2009.3.20. Seattle Symphony.

 Leonard Slatkin, conductor
 Julian Rachlin, violin
 Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
 Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
 Berlioz: Symphony fantastique

Berlioz's is very pretty. Britten's is a bit too loud, especially for first 3 pieces: dawn, Sunday morning, moonlight. More fit for his opera scenes. Stravinsky's is a showcase for Rachlin, but a little incoherent between movements. The 35 year-old Rachlin plays a 1741 "ex Carrodus" Guarnerius del Gesù violin.

2009.3.2. Seattle Repertory Theatre "Seafarer"

2009.3.2. Young Irish playwright Conor McPherson's new play Seafarer at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Directed by Wilson Milam. It has nothing to do with the sea. 4 drinking buddies and the devil play cards on Christmas Eve. The devil and one of the guys had an earlier encounter, and now it was time the devil takes him away. Great stage set. Lots of bottles. Once you get over the initial accent barrier (with some help of the program notes which listed about 10 slang words), you began to enjoy the acting and the language. However, not sure I get what message the author is trying to convey, if there's any (other than minor criticism of heavy drinking). What's the devil got anything to do with the story?