Thursday, May 22, 2008
And off we go ... southeasterly
Ah, it is finally here. Time to leave in the morning for our fifth annual Spoleto Festival marathon show-going in Charleston. If I've counted correctly, we have nine performances of one kind or another between 7:30 Friday night and noon on Monday. Yippee! It's such an orgy of arts events, between Spoleto itself and the equally-intriguing Piccolo Spoleto. Thank goodness our son got a job there and drew us in -- it's his fifth year, and ours, too. And what could be better than an orgy of arts events, in a delightful historic town like Charleston? Reports can be anticipated.
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2 comments:
I am and will be interested in reports on said subject as I am not fmailiar with Spoletto....what the heck is it, and well, why is it a draw (I mean other than just it being arts involved). No, I am not being calloused, I am merely being inquisitive as an un-educated, yet more than ready to learn, audience. Please inform as you feel necessary. Thanks Bill!!! MIKEY WISEMAN
At its core, Spoleto Festival is an idea first occurring in the Italian town of the same name (you can pronounce it Spoh-lay-toe, or Spoh-letto, or however you wish. No one agrees.) Then they brought a "sister" festival to Charleston some years back, and it just keeps getting bigger.
I had heard of it, but not really connnected until Andy got a job working there four festivals back (this is his fifth, and ours). Spoleto brings some often very interesting, sometimes edgy, and often international theater, ballet, modern dance, opera, music, jazz, etc. over three weekends, and often throughout the weeks, too.
It's really quite something, and it is more than doubled by what they call "Piccolo Spoleto," which adds a ton of comedy, plays, music, arts, crafts and such to the calendar. A lot of these events are hour long or up to two hours, but it allows us to mix and match. We started on Friday at 5:30 and saw our last from noon to 1 p.m. today (Monday) -- and racked up 9 different events in that time period. Love it. Marathon!
We've seen some truly superb work, and some that we considered a waste. Typical of theater-going, I suppose. Much of it is theater given our bias. But I also trace my beginning inspiration to write my first "real" play to the 2006 Spoleto marathon (7 shows in the same time period, including one that gave me some basic thoughts for "Conversations.")
It also gives us a chance to touch base with our son, which we don't always get to do.
The downside: it ain't cheap to stay in Charleston or eat in Charleston or see some of the Spoleto stuff (most of the Piccolo stuff is much more affordable). Took us a while to get to a point to afford it!
Bill
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