Picto Diary - 24 September 2016 - OSF, Timon of Athens

Above: Oak Tree Restaurant. Ashland, OR. 24 September 2016.

Ashland breakfast destination over the last 10 years. Have enjoyed visiting with Bob Peterson, by now 95 year old, Southern Pacific Railroad man and WWII US Navy Seabee. Went looking for Bob this morning.

Oak Tree is one of two good breakfast places in Ashland. The other is Brothers. Both are good. Brothers is frequented mostly by liberal elites. Oak Tree, mostly by Deplorables. — at Oak Tree Restaurant & Lounge.

Bishop, Lori, and Loren. Per waitress Lori, Bob Peterson died. "We put his cap on that pillar over there." (Note cap on pillar in image).

Loren is his "replacement."

Bishop, Lori, and Loren. Per waitress Lori, Bob Peterson died. "We put his cap on that pillar over there."

Loren is his "replacement."

Loren, 90, drove up from Sun City, AZ to Ashland to see his daughter. WWII Navy LST Pacific. US Army Chaplain retired.

Loren and wife, who died 10 years ago of Alzheimer's, summered in Logan, UT for 10 years. His wife loved the opera there, but he said he slept through most of it.

500 Valley people went to Logan every summer. We were an economic force in the town, so the LDS missionaries never bothered us. Town fathers didn't want to lose us as a source of income.

We have six kids, but we're neither Mormons or Catholics.

Bob Peterson was a Seabee who worked on special teams in Iran? I don't believe it. You'll have to show me in writing, then I'll believe it. WWII Seabees never worked in Iran. I'm a historian. I read and I watch the news.

For the last 15 years, I've slept sitting in a chair. Don't know why. Maybe I'm afraid I won't get up if I lay down.

I usually don't go out for breakfast. This is too much food.

I'm an atheist. I gave up the belief stuff when I was 75. — at Oak Tree Restaurant & Lounge.

Note gun sign on deplorable truck parked outside of Oak Tree Restaurant..

Above: Breakfast. Oak Tree Restaurant. Ashland, OR. 24 September 2016.

Above. Christopher Liam Moore. File image. 24 September 2016.

At Perfesser's (sic) invitation I had joined him at a presentation to an OSF donor group by Christopher Liam Moore , frequent OSF director, actor now playing role of Richard II currently showing at OSF, and wife of OSF dramatic head, Bill Rausch.

Much of discussion centered on OSF'S focus on race and gender.

If an African American actress is playing a role where Shakespeare dialogue calls her an "Ethiope," an insult in Elizabethan times, shouldn't we have a dialogue about that?

Above: Bishop, Perfesser (sic), and Aunt Joyce at her membership drive post. Bowmer Theater, OSF. Ashland, OR 24 September 2016.

Perfesser (sic) and Mwah (sic) had just completed lunch at nearby Martinos, where we discussed Perfesser's (sic) upcoming Fulbright grant offering a three month position at the Nobel Institute in Oslo. Perfesser (sic) will research wars over different historical periods.

Above: Cousin Cyd and small residential library stand. Ashland, OR. 24 September 2016.

Cousin Cyd and Mwah (sic) out for a walk.

I saw one of these mini library stands in Moab, UT, walking with Elk, last month.

Deer. Ubiquitous in residential Ashland. — in Ashland, Oregon. 24 September 2016.

Noted while out on a walk with Cousin Cyd.

Above: File image. Timon of Athens. OSF, Ashland, OR. 24 September 2016.

The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity at both ends.

Apamantus
"Timon of Athens"
William Shakespeare

One thing you learn from Shakespeare is how his centuries old musings are timeless. Today, as in Timon, we note the superficiality of most if our relationships. There is nothing new under the sun.

In the end you can only depend on close family. All else is ephemera.

Take a boring, abstruse, little performed play, salt it with colorful, impressionistic, modern clothing, contemporary live music, lottsa females playing male roles, near overt exhibitions of debauchery (some walked out), and a magnificent acting performance by lead role Timon ("Silence of the Lambs") Anthony Heald, and you end up with a sensual assault that at least keeps you awake past your bedtime.

Female Apamantus was never convincing to me. I tried to suspend disbelief, but, was never successful. The contrast to Heald's masterful performance of Timon too great.

Notwithstanding the simple, linear plot line (Timon is up...Timon is down), the theatrical exaggeration, and the off putting weak performance Apamantus, I was drawn into the character of Timon...aided in no small way by Heald's splendid acting out of the role.

Timon of Athens sparked deep reflection of modern day parallels. At times I am affected by a degree of misanthropy as I watch I our culture fray, our economy sink, and our mojo wane. "What's wrong with you people," I ask myself. "Quit your whining! Get hold of yourselves and pull yourselves up!"

I hate to say it, but I can see the appeal of being a misanthrope, in my current frame of mind.

Addendum:

Great post.

El Contador,
Devon, UK