Good King Charles and DRAG

I was asked in my comments how many hours of television I watch in a week. This weekend, I've clearly watched none as I have not posted a single post, but by the end of the week, I'll have made up for it I'm sure.

As an example, to illustrate my television consumption, I started watching Battlestar Galactica this past January. I'd never seen an episode, but before the series ended at the end of March, I had caught up and was waiting like everyone else for the last few episode to air. That was in addition to watching all the other series airing each week.

Now that I've addressed that, let us move on to last night at the Shaw Festival.

I went to see In Good King Charles's Golden Days, by Shaw himself, and was thoroughly entertained. The acting was spot on, the set was magnificent (I most appreciated the light fixture in the third act which featured the planets, including Pluto), and everything was as one expects it ought to be from Shaw. My background being in theatre, I could go on about every merit or failure of the production, but this blog is about whether something is worth watching or not, so we'll keep to that.

It was worth watching. I particularly enjoyed the scenes heavy with historical irony. King Charles's younger brother James spend a good while telling his older brother how the British people ought to be ruled, while Charles shook his head sadly at the foolishness. When James did become king, he implemented those councils and lost his crown in under 5 years.

Also, the premise of so many interesting personages, including Nell Gwynn and George Fox, in the home of Isaac Newton was a delightful starting point. Certainly the play itself lacks a solid plot...or perhaps a solid beginning, middle and end, but it was entertaining throughout in despite of this.

After the performance, I went to see a different show. A DRAG night, performed by Shaw staff. I was jealous. I do not have those legs and I do not look that good in heels...in fact, I'd likely fall over. There is nothing quite like a good drag show, and this one was marvelous. The dancing, the lip sinking and the singing, the talent and the effort. Theatre that I want to be part of.

Last night's entertainment was live. Tonight's will be Casablanca. Still not TV, but movies are perhaps a little close. So a tout a l'heure.