Events

Louisville Bats vs. Gwinnett Braves - 6/20/09 at Slugger Field – I don’t remember when the Richmond Braves stopped playing in Richmond, and I really have NO idea where Gwinnett is, although, I’m sure I could look it up.  Anyway, this was a wonderful game.  It was my daughter’s first baseball outing, though she stayed in the air-conditioned suite until the 7th inning stretch when I took her out to sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” but she seemed to really enjoy it.  And, it was a Bats win with a couple of homers for the home team; a 4-hit shutout even.  So, all in all, a pretty good night at the ballpark.  Thanks to T. for the offer and the seats.

Rite of Spring Louisville Ballet - 3/4/09 at Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center – The opener to the evening was Vivace with music by Schubert and choreography by Caniparoli.  It wasn’t my favorite, but it was fun.  The music was good and the dancing was decent, although, at times, the company seemed a little separated from one another.  But, it wasn’t what we came to see.  The next piece was Lark Ascending with music by Vaughan Williams and choreography by Marks(?) and it was simply stunning.  I ordinarily don’t care for Williams, but this piece was very, very good and well performed by the first violinist…but he held no candle to the lovely Helen Daigle surrounded by five very strong, very agile, very lucky men.  After this piece, I really didn’t think it could get better.  Still, it wasn’t what we had come to see.  Finally, we were treated to a world premiere of Rite of Spring with music by Stravinsky (naturally) and choreography by Hougland, featuring hometown girl Wendy Whelan.  It was dark, foreboding, and with just a hint of Flashdance.  I hardly blinked.  I know what the program said, but for me, it was very much an allegory about violence against women in our society.  A very industrial set and penal-inspired costumes with dark lighting made for an incredible performance.  Hougland never fails to impress and Whelan literally set the stage on fire with her performance.  Daigle and Whelan made the evening one that we won’t soon forget.  Kudos to all involved.

Saltimbanco Cirque du Soleil – 3/14/09 at Freedom Hall – I don’t know how you can attend a performance of Cirque du Soleil and not be enthralled.  Even if you’ve seen it all before, there’s still something amazing about the whole affair.  I enjoyed this trip, though I’ve seen parts of this one on television before.  While the music and the acrobatics is very beautiful, the comic stylings of Cirque is really what makes me enjoy it.  They always have a flair for comedy and it’s what keeps bringing me back.  I’m not sure that Freedom Hall is the best venue, I would think that Louisville Gardens would be better…but as long as it keeps coming, I won’t complain.

Cinderella Louisville Ballet – 2/14/09 at KCA – What a lovely evening performance for Valentine’s Day!  This was quite a production with amazing sets, though the costumes were a little hideous.  Emily O’Dell as the Fairy Godmother looked like she’d been wrapped in cheap taffeta.  Anyway…Robert Dunbar and Morgan Hulen stole the show with their ugly stepsisters routine.  It was like watching a silent film with those two.  Everyone else danced admirably and Natalia Ashikhmina (Cinderella) becomes more and more a favorite with every performance.

Wicked – 1/8/09 at KCA – We’ve been anticipating this show for some time, listening to the soundtrack repeatedly.  It lived up to every hope that we had.  The story is basically what happened previous to the Wizard of Oz and sort of the backstory on what happens behind the scenes of the movie.  It’s rather ingenious what the author has done and the persons who put together the musical seem to have been right in line with his ideas.  My favorite pieces were “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” which are probably a lot of people’s favorite as they are immanently hummable.  I thought that all the players were good, particularly Elphaba and Glinda.  Oh…and don’t be surprised, when you see this (and you will see it because it’s really that good) if you don’t come out thinking a little bit differently about the witches and exactly whose side you’re on anyway.

Ladies Choice Louisville Ballet - 10/11/08 at KCA – I was iffy on this evening’s performance before going.  First, I was excited by a new ballet from Helen Pickett (my new favorite choreographer), but I was unmoved by the idea of Twila Tharp again.  So it all boiled down to Lila Ford’s piece.  Well, first, Helen Pickett did not disappoint.  Her piece Etesian was outstanding in its simplicity and its movement.  Continuing on her triumph from last November, she continues to amaze.  Then, of course, was Nine Sinatra Songs which bores me because the choreography is so blah, it’s just twirls and tricks and terribly unimaginative.  Not to mention the old lady who sat next to me “sang along with Frank” for EVERY song.  How does one tell one’s elders to shut their f-ing piehole in a nice way?  So Celts was the “rubber match” for the evening and it was not disappointing.  It was a little heavy on the Riverdance imagery, but parts of it were amazing.  All in all, not a bad evening for ballet…although, not many people were there to see it.  Half the hall was empty and the parking garage even more so.

The Great Gatsby Louisville Ballet - 8/6/08 at KCA – The one thing I’ve always disliked about The Great Gatsby is that it’s hard to follow the characters. There seem to be so many of them and because they seem shallow to me, the lack definition that makes them stand out. So Gatsby I get and Nick, somewhat…but after that, they all start to look alike. And honestly, it’s been years since I read the book…but I digress. The ballet was good, in my opinion. I love the choreography and the music was very, very good. But, the ballet tended to suffer the same issues as the book. They’re all very pretty and stuff, but there’s not much definition of character. Newcomer Peter Lay was great and Christy Corbitt Miller was very good. Everyone else sort of faded into the background. It was a decent show, but it wasn’t brilliant. Eyecatching; but not jaw-dropping.

Louisville Bats vs. Durham Bulls - 8/21/08 at Slugger Field – Can it really have been a month and a half since I last saw the Bats play? Well…it was worth the wait I suppose as the Bats subdued the Bulls 6-3 en route to clinching the West Division title in the International League. It turned out to be a decent evening and as I was in charge of the group I was with, I feel like everyone had a decent time. It looked like it might be a high scoring affair, both teams scoring two runs in the first, but then a bunch of zeroes before the Bats broke it open later. Pettyjohn pitched into the eighth and did a fine job.

Louisville Bats vs. Indianapolis Indians - 7/1/08 at Slugger Field – An absolutely wonderful way to begin the month of July. I sat and kept score as Josh Fogg threw eight shutout innings against the Indians and behind sat a boy and his mother; the boy a very polite and well-behaved young man who spoke intelligently and his mother who was well-versed in baseball, pointing out various things for him to take note of. All in all, a beautiful evening at the ballpark. Not to mention Chris Dickerson’s grand slam and triple to drive in all the Bats’ runs!

Louisville Bats vs. Indianapolis Indians - 6/30/08 at Slugger Field – What a gorgeous evening for a baseball game. Just the right amount of wind, just the right amount of sun, just the right amount of homeruns, and a win for the home team. I have always relied on the kindness of strangers for tickets (thank you B. & P.) and my Neighbor and I enjoyed another fine ballgame. Final score, 12-8 good guys…which means another free taco from Qdoba.

Louisville Bats vs. Toledo Mud Hens - 6/5/08 at Slugger Field – It’s been a long time since I watched a game that took that long. Even with the padded seats (thank you S. & B.), my ass was killing me after this 4 hour 46 minute contest that featured 6 errors, 25 runs, and some really bad pitching. My Neighbor showed up around the 5th inning and even he was tired after the final out. The ball park was practically empty…so much so that you could hear the official scorer giving information in the pressbox. AND, they lost…13-12. It was a really long game. So, not my best first trip of the season to the ballpark. But, still a nice night to be out even if it was warm.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Kentucky Wildcats - 4/22/08 at Patterson Stadium – Wow! I’ve been to a lot of ballgames…more than I can count really. But last night’s game was great! A constant see-saw battle between the teams. Both evenly matched and it ended with a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single to right center field by Chris Dominguez. It was certainly a wonderful evening out at the ballpark for me and my dad and we enjoyed every minute of it. Congrats to the Cards on a great win!

Beauty and the Beast Louisville Ballet – 4/5/08 at KCA – I’ve seen this ballet before (9/16/06) and apparently I liked it. Not so much this time. It just seems overly long. It’s always well danced, but it’s just…I don’t know, something. Anyway, my problem this time was not with the dancers, but with the music. I realize that money is tight, but having recorded music and a handful of live musicians was not a good plan. At several points, the musicians (some of whom I know, so I hope this doesn’t hurt too much) were completely out of rhythm with the recording. I blame some of this on the conductor and some of this on the ballet administration. Either way, it was messy. However, some of the violin parts were out of tune with the recording as well. And it was not, I believe, designed to be Ives-ian (Charles, that is, not Burl). Well, we left after the first act…so maybe it got better. Like I say, we’d seen it before.

Humana Festival – 3/30/08 at Actor’s Theatre – C. and I met J. and C. at Intermezzo for dinner before taking in the production of All Hail Hurricane Gordo. The food was okay, the wine was decent, the company was outstanding. The play was well done, if a little unbelievable. 2 boys left in a box who return to their home to live without guardians or means of support? It’s a little ridiculous. Still, the play nearly had me in tears near the end. I won’t give it away, but the last 2 scenes of the play were well-staged, well-acted, and well-written. I enjoyed it very much.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Wright State Raiders - 3/12/08 at Patterson Stadium - My father and I headed out to see some early spring collegiate baseball. We were not disappointed in the game, which we won 7-5. We were not disappointed with our seats. We were disappointed in the crowd. I realize that baseball is not the huge collegiate sport that football and basketball are, but there were maybe 50 people there. There were more players than fans. I kid you not. Anyway, it was a great afternoon, if not a little chilly. We’re looking forward to many more games at this wonderful complex.

Leap Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble - 3/10/08 at Rudyard Kipling – Another night out with the controlled wackiness of Le Petomane. These guys always make me laugh and there’s always something to entertain. This production was no let down. I commented to C. later that it was much like a tour of a Salvador Dali painting with Buster Keaton as your guide. Abigail Maupin was spot-on as the time keeper with magnificent spectacles in this one. Kristie Rolape and Tony Dingman reminded me of a Hansel and Gretel montage at times who performed their roles brilliantly. Greg Maupin, the silent one, never ceases to amaze with a gesture or movement at the just the right time. Their performances will always help me remember the first time I had celery.

American Vanguards Louisville Ballet – 3/1/08 at Whitney Hall, KCA – The first piece of the night continuum choreographed by Mikelle Bruzina was interesting, but not overwhelming. I’ve come to understand that most of Mikelle’s stuff will be much like what I imagine a work day to be at the Louisville Ballet. Short of both pas de deux, this piece was typical. Plus, I think she must really like Vivaldi…that seems to be her only choice when choreographing. Not that I mind Vivaldi…it certainly beats Stravinsky, but I believe she may have found herself in a creative rut. The second piece Between Stillness I had a little more interest in. I know the composer, Steve Rouse, personally, and I work for the UofL School of Music whose Symphony Orchestra performed the music for the ballet. Graham Lustig choreographed an excellent piece to showcase both the idea of Frederick Hart’s work as well as Rouse’s music. Aside from the last 20 seconds or so, I was simply amazed. The little kiss at the end was a little too much. I would’ve preferred they just sink back into the backdrop. Finally, we skipped Company B because we’ve seen it at least 3 times.

Louisville Improv w/The Groundlings - 1/5/08 at MeX Theatre, KCA – An evening of comedy with Joel and Alison that was enjoyed by everyone. It’s hard to say much other than it was funny and well-received. There weren’t any particular standout moments, but I did spend most of the evening trying to figure out where I knew one of The Groundlings (Colleen Smith) from…I think it must have been an episode of The Office. Anyway, it was a good time and dinner afterward was good as well.

Spunk - 12/13/07 at Actors Theatre of Louisville – Tickets gifted to us by the Trimbles, we absolutely loved this performance. Three short tales by Zora Neale Hurston, interspersed with blues music, were genuine and sensual and suspenseful and humorous. The cast did an amazing job transitioning from character to character, scene to scene. I’ve got to read more by Ms. Hurston. It was a great introduction to the holiday season and we enjoyed the play very much.

A Very Special Holiday Special and Gladys…of Adventure, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble - 12/8/07 at Rudyard Kipling – An evening with Le Petomane is always wonderful and exciting. It’s fun to be a part of live theatre that engages your mind and your laugh. The first show was Gladys…of Adventure, a throwback to radio serials which featured great performances by the entire cast. This was an extension of their November show and it was great to have an extended version. Second up was A Very Special Holiday Special which has some of the most well-written original music numbers since Rodgers and Hammerstein split up. I’d love to see Le Petomane in a larger, more usable space…but I’d hate for it to lose its intimate show quality. It’s a wonderful theatre experience every time, sidesplitting and engaging.

One Man Star Wars Show - 12/6/07 at Bomhard Theatre, Kentucky Center – My best friend John got us tickets to this event for my birthday. We both love Star Wars and how could we pass up a chance on this event. Charles Ross, a confessed Canadian, is outstanding and remarkably enduring during this one and a half hour run through of the entire original Star Wars trilogy. He does music, sound effects, voices, and actions which make for the best retelling since C-3PO entertained the Ewoks with this same story. If you have the slightest interest in Star Wars and are anywhere near a showing…GO! Go and enjoy…and May the Force be with You!

Visionary Forces Louisville Ballet - 11/3/07 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – Okay, this may be long and it might not be. Truth is, I read Adler’s piece on it before seeing the performance. Fortunately, it did not seem to color my review of the performance. The first set was Vespri, a Prokovsky choreography that was unfortunately your typical old school ballet. It was tutus and tiny toepoint movements. It was bland and uninspired, but it didn’t hurt to watch. upon your held-out hand was the second piece and it was frenetic and powerful and inspired and amazing. Helen Pickett, the choreographer is brilliant and I look forward to seeing more of her work. The costumes and set design and lighting were brilliant. It was a couple steps behind Hougland, but all in all, the best piece of the night. I didn’t find it “thin” as Adler seemed to think. Also, Beethoven’s music was the perfect setting in my opinion. Of course, I love Beethoven. Finally, The Golden Section was a Twyla Tharp piece with music by David Byrne. Byrne is a visionary and his music is complicated and beautiful and it was perfect for ballet. Tharp’s choreography on the other hand looked:

• like an Acting-for-Non-Majors “exploring the space” exercise
• a “show” put on by your 4-year-old niece and her older sister
• background dancing from the Broadway musical “Grease”

I don’t fault the dancers…the choreography, which is apparently licensed with Tharp Service Standards or somesuch, limits the dancers most likely. They showed earlier in the evening that they are extremely capable with decent choreography. It’s not about the athleticism, it’s about the aesthetics. It looked fun, but it didn’t look like ballet, ancient or modern. Apparently I’m not a huge Twyla Tharp fan.

Fun with our Shorts, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble - 9/28/07 at The Rudyard Kipling – Le Petomane continues to amaze and astound with their comedic repertoire and athletic aplomb. This was a set of short pieces designed to be voted upon so as to provide for a longer piece in November. There were 5 (okay, 8 ) to choose from and you have to love audience interaction. My favorite was “The Radio Show”, although I liked “Bees” and “Boioioioioinnnngg!” as well. The other two, “Party of One” and “Haircut” were good, but honestly, I think they’re better as short pieces. Possibly “Bees” was better as a short piece as well. But everything was good…all the actors/resses acquitted themselves with style…or something like it. I can’t wait to see what the final tally will be to find out which piece wins.

The Magic Flute Louisville Ballet - 9/15/07 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – Okay, one caveat about this review before I continue. I had to leave about 10 minutes into the second half due to a previously scheduled engagement, so I didn’t see the whole thing. However, I was not that impressed. The bare stage was fine, the lighting was poor in my opinion…it often left dancers faces in the dark, and the choreography that was so exciting less than two weeks ago seemed disjointed and sloppy. Granted, it was the afternoon matinee and there were understudy dancers, but that’s not really an excuse. It just seemed poorly done and I really had high hopes for it. Others in my party were also less than impressed, although they had other concerns than I did. The music was good, although I thought the singers could’ve been heard more over the orchestra…the choral parts were very good. It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t the best ballet I’ve ever seen.

Middle Tennessee State University vs. University of Louisville - 9/7/07 at Cardinal Stadium – Boy, if this is the way our defense is gonna play this year, it’s going to be a long year and we might as well kiss hopes of another Big East championship goodbye. Thanks to my buddy John, we ventured through the unbelievable traffic to get to our decent seats, only to see Louisville get horsewhipped in the first half. Up by 3 at half time, we managed to keep them to one score in the second half, but the score was a lot closer than it should have been. It was an ugly looking team effort and while we gained 700+ yards, it was not pretty. I’m not looking forward to the rest of this season. WVU and Rutgers will tear us down for sure. Still, a win is a win…I suppose. At least until it comes to BCS voting…but I’m not worried about that anymore. I’ll just be happy if we can break even this year.

Louisville Ballet Open Rehearsal – 8/29/07 at Louisville Ballet – This was an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the newest ballet The Magic Flute and it promises to be outstanding. I enjoyed the rehearsal, except the choreographer went on and on explaining the story and I would venture to guess that most of the people there already knew the answer. Anyway…I would have liked to see more rehearsing, but it seemed very polished. I think that’s probably by design, but it was still very exciting to see it all happening.

Hell’s Kitchen Dance w/Mikhail Baryshnikov - 8/8/07 at Brown Theatre – I spoke about this magnificent evening briefly in a blogpost. I can’t tell you how much the event meant to me…just to be in the same room with such a wonderful presence and such a beautiful dancer. Plus, the dance troupe he performed with was absolutely spectacular. The choreography was emotionally charged and the evening was one I’ll never forget. Four pieces and it ended all too soon. As tears formed in my eyes, I realized I could’ve watched the final piece for ever.

Louisville Bats vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees - 7/13/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – A chance to hit the ballpark with my wife and family, as well as some folks from the family church, including the refugee family from Burma. I was able to get a feel for what it was like to see a game without actually “seeing” the game. I saw very little actual play until the last couple of innings due to various conversations and baby-watchings. But there were fireworks which were okay, Myron Noodleman which is tired shtick, and a Bats loss which seems to be par for the course these days. Another 10-inning blundering by the home team. Also got to see G, J, & A briefly and they’re doing well.

Louisville Bats vs. Richmond Braves - 6/27/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – Literally, the hottest, muggiest day in the history of the summer this year. I sweltered in my seat, literally dripping all over the seat. And then the Bats lost it in ten innings which really made for a long game. So, while the company was wonderful, the weather made it nearly unbearable. But, a trip to Dairy Kastle afterwards and then the afternoon in the pool made it for a very good day.

Louisville Bats vs. Pawtucket Red Sox - 6/23-24/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – The dates are right, but the game didn’t last that long. It was actually two games. Game 1 on Saturday night was a beauty although the Bats lost. Devern Hansack, a minor league pitcher for my beloved Red Sox, nailed the Bats to the wall for seven innings. He had a perfect game until Aaron Herr doubled to open the eighth. It was a thing of beauty, it really was. I know homeruns are great, but there’s nothing like a pitching performance that absolutely dominates. Game 2 was completely different, but not so much. The Sox scored 3 in the top of the first, the Bats came back with 5 in the bottom of the first, and that was all the offense there was. Zeroes across the board for the next 8 innings. Also, good company with both games. That really makes for a good game as well.

Louisville Bats vs. Buffalo Bisons - 5/26/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – This one was a debacle almost from the beginning. The Bats committed 4 errors and the Bisons scored in every frame but the fifth and sixth. Needless to say, pitching prowess and “golden gloves” were not with the Bats this evening. As well, we sat in section 131, which is deep left field. But the homeruns were not forthcoming. Still, Dad and I declared that any evening at the ballpark is a good evening and we enjoyed ourselves.

Spamalot! – 5/20/07 at Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center – I thought this was a wonderful show. It combined my love of Monty Python with some great song/playwriting by Eric Idle into a really cool musical. There were probably parts that were not as good as the Tim Curry/David Hyde Pierce version, but all in all, I thought it was a great production. It had shades of Mel Brooks with its references to Jews and even the sets were amazing. It was at least a laugh a minute and if you’ve ever seen “The Quest for the Holy Grail”, you would’ve loved every minute of it. I laughed, I cried…it became a part of me.

Louisville Bats vs. Syracuse Chiefs - 5/14/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – As I mentioned in my blog, this was the perfect day for a game. I cut out of work for a “long lunch” and beat it out to the ballpark for a day game. I got a decent sunburn, but I caught a foul ball. Plus, the friends I was with kept the beer flowing…so it was a pretty great afternoon. The Bats won a great game, providing a couple of home run balls for the kids there for “Education Day.” There was one wild play that didn’t make much sense to me. I think that’s what I really like about baseball. There’s always something that new that you haven’t seen.

Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers – 4/9/07 at Louisville Slugger Field – It takes a true fan to go to a baseball game in April when the temperature is way below what is ordinarily acceptable for a ballgame. I am that true fan. We stayed through a game with little to no offense, by which I mean, there were 8 hits total in the game and the only batter I saw get to third base was the one who eventually scored the winning run. It was definitely a pitcher’s duel with both teams fielding a collection of decent pitchers. The Columbus rotation had a no-hitter through nine…but then a double, a sacrifice, and a lined single to right clinched the game for the good guys. It was great to be back at the ballpark, even in the cold. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

Moliere’s Don Juan, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble - 3/24/07 at The Rudyard Kipling – This latest work by Le Petomane is genius from start to finish. A healthy production (90 minutes), this is serious theatre that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Taken from several different translations of Moliere’s work, there is something for everyone and by all accounts, a resounding success given the sold out crowd at the Rud. With quick costume changes and full-featured masks, the entire cast (all 6 of them) create a world in which you are immersed in intrique, love, and hypocrisy. It is witty, poignant, action-packed, full of wild accents, and highly recommended. This newest installment is not to be missed as Moliere’s words ring true today just as they assuredly did over three centuries ago. And there’s also a chance, ladies, that Don Juan will flirt with you personally, so get a good seat early.

Uncharted Realms, Louisville Ballet - 2/17/07 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – Well, we were late to this one because we were having dinner with a friend. We missed the debut of Nicholas Carter’s Regina Coeli, but I vaguely remember the shorter version at the Choreographer Showcase and I seemed to like that…so we’ll just assume it got better as it got longer. And, if it was anything like the rest of the show…it was stunning. The second piece was Adam Hougland’s newest work Fragile Stasis which played in shadows, was homoerotic at times, and frankly, was one of the most intense ballets I’ve seen. His works are always good, but this one had something more to it I think. For me, this one evoked notions of molecular movement; the friction between bonds of moving particles, as well as moments of cosmological significance; planets and stars spinning wildly through space. Finally, Lambarena by Val Caniparoli was perfect. It was African dance and traditional ballet combined beautifully over a soundtrack of African rhythms/music mixed with Bach. I know…you’re saying it can’t be done…you are so wrong. It was done, and done to electrifying perfection. It’s probably the best dancing, well, the best anything I’ve seen in a long time. It was joyful and powerful and provocative and skillful and…I could go on and on. The Louisville Ballet put the star on their season with this set of three.

Celtic Christianity Workshop - 2/17/07 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church – This Saturday, my friend Bryan McFarland, led a Celtic Christianity retreat at my church. I truly believe a wonderful experience was shared by all. With the snow falling outside, we shared our Celtic connection with God, through Celtic work prayer writing, and Celtic knot drawing, and worship time with singing/chanting and silence. My prayer ended up being much better than my knot, but as we learned from the monks who drew the Book of Kells, only God can make it perfect. It was truly a wonderful experience and I appreciate Bryan for making it work for an outstanding group of people.

Keith McGill/Etta Mae - 1/28/07 at Comedy Caravan – Keith is a friend of mine and I’ve heard some of his stuff before, but even the old stuff is extremely funny. His bit about Cream of Wheat is hysterical. This was the first time I had seen Etta Mae though and she was quite good, although I think her set went on a little long. She was a little bit more vulgar than Keith, but it was still a really good show. There was also another comic sandwiched in between, Nathan Wallace, and he was okay, but not very polished.

Coppelia, Ballet de L’Opera - 12/19/06 at L’Opera Bastille, Paris - A different version of Coppelia than the one we had seen before. This one featured more of a love triangle which was very interesting. The set design and costumes were lush and wonderful and the dancing was very good as well. Of course, it was ballet in Paris, so you’d have to expect that it was pretty good.

Four for All, Louisville Ballet - 11/4/06 at Kentucky Center – A truly wondrous evening at the ballet. Wendy Whelan’s return to Louisville was outstanding as she and her colleague from NYC Ballet put on an amazing show. The first dance, Raymonda, Act III, was your typical “tutu” ballet. Then the show really began to catch fire. Liturgy was absolutely stunning. It made the whole evening. Agon was good, but I hate Stravinsky. Unfortunately, Nine Sinatra Songs, was pretty much crap. Apparently I don’t much care for Tharp either. Anyway, it was a good show to a point.

Ka-Blam!, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble – 11/4/06 at The Rudyard Kipling – An exciting comic book adventure through the decades featuring Captain Ka-Blam! Once again, Le Petomane has conjured an evening of hilarity and mayhem that is at once brilliant in its portrayal of old comic books, radio serials and campy television programs and at the same time relevant to today’s audience. Every member of the cast plays an outstanding role in “Ka-Blam!” which features great tag lines and spectacularly choreographed fight scenes. If you haven’t seen Le Petomane in action, you’re missing out on some of the best theatre available in the city.

Louisville Cardinals vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - 11/2/06 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium – An incredible defeat of our archnemesis, those wily Mountaineers. Final score: 44-34. It was a beautiful moment as the crowd stormed the field. The WVU band kept playing the Imperial March, which I blame solely on Paige. I’m certain that she instigated it. However, we sent the “couchburners” packing until next year.

Delirium, Cirque du Soleil – 10/27/06 at Freedom Hall, KFEC – My first Cirque experience. It was amazing. I sat with rapt attention trying to take in every movement, every scene…but there’s just too much. It’s too opulent, too spectacular. If you’ve not seen a live show, go find one now. If you’ve never even heard of Cirque…well, I’m sorry that you’ve missed out. This one almost fit in under the concerts section because it was all live music. Nitza opened the show.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bearcats – 10/14/06 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium – A somewhat lackluster homecoming. The return of Brohm didn’t provide the offensive spark that some imagined. And while the game was fairly decent, it was cold by the 4th quarter and we were quite happy to get out with a win. I hate those hold-your-breath Hail Mary passes.

My Fair Lady – 9/23/06 at Actors Theatre Louisville – An outstanding performance that featured all your favorite songs. One nitpick was they picked a great Henry Higgins, who couldn’t sing. The Doolittles (Eliza and Alfred) were both wonderful and the fact that the cast stayed on stage, rather than disappearing into the wings. The staging really did make the play. “…on the street where you live.” Thanks to J and C for the tickets and for a good dinner at Ramsi’s following.

Beauty and the Beast, Louisville Ballet – 9/16/06 at Kentucky Center – The first of a new season of ballets. This one was opulent and, stylistically, very Asian-influenced, which makes sense because it was commissioned by the Hong Kong Ballet. The second act was by far my favorite because of the beautiful pas de deux. A true triumphant beginning to a new season.Dinner beforehand with S & S at Palermo was fabulous.

Louisville Bats vs. Indianapolis Indians – 9/4/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – A game fraught with errors that led to a Louisville loss in their last game of the season. Fortunately, we were with J and G and A and that made it much more bearable. Better luck next year Bats!

Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins – 7/22/06 at Jacobs Field – Sweet! A rainbow cleared the sky for our second game in two days. Dad and I saw Jeremy Sowers pitch a 4-hit shutout and Pronk dinged one to right center to beat the Twins. Another beautiful night for baseball…again, check out the photos section for pictures.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees - 7/21/06 at SkyDome at Rogers Centre - Yeah, I know…a Yankees game, but it was in Canada and my dad and I went and it was spectacular. They opened the dome just before game time for a beautiful Toronto evening…check out the photos section for pictures.

Louisville Bats vs. Norfolk Tides - 7/13/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – Woooh…5 games in a month. My father-in-law and I had a great time at the ballpark and it was another Bats victory. Nothing like a summer evening at the ballpark with a decent beer.

Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers - 7/7/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – The Bats are on a roll. This was a trip to the ballpark courtesy of my dad. We had an excellent time, beautiful weather, great hotdogs and peanuts (we’re traditionalists!) and the Bats won. To top it all off…FIREWORKS! A night to be remembered.

Louisville Bats vs. Toledo Mud Hens – 7/4/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – This game played under the threat of rain for awhile, but thanks to J & A we had great seats behind home plate. Unfortunately, the Bats came up short in the end with the city fireworks providing an interesting backdrop to the final inning and a half. Oh, if only Earl Snyder had tied it up with a homer in the ninth, he could’ve rounded home Roy Hobbs-style with the fireworks in the background. Maybe next time.

Louisville Bats vs. Rochester Red Wings - 6/25/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – This had to be the shortest game on record. We got there at the top of the third inning, but we had seats in a suite (Thanks to the Neighbors!) and there were free hot dogs and beer. What a score! Anyway, it was a Bats victory in a game that lasted only 2:02. Hopefully our next trip to the ballpark will yield a longer more exciting game.

Louisville Bats vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons - 6/7/06 at Louisville Slugger Field – It took longer to write out the name of the visiting team than the actual time spent at the ballpark. It began to rain somewhere around the 5th or 6th inning with the Bats down by a run. We decided to leave because it didn’t look like it would let up. Apparently the Bats won later after an extensive rain delay. Not a great outing for our first trip of the season.

Giselle, Louisville Ballet - 4/28/06 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – This ballet started out slow and it’s conceivable that I just don’t care for classical ballet. Still, it had a couple of good moments. Unfortunately, we left during intermission. Neither one of us had eaten and I had to run in the morning, so I did not get to see the ending. I asked a couple of people about the second half and the responses ranged from “It was very good” to “It was very slow”, so take your pick.

Ban: An Appeal, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble – 3/24/06 at Rudyard Kipling – This show opened with a little bit ukulele, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. Okay, no actual rock ‘n’ roll, but still some great show starters from the Prohibition era. Truth is, this was not their best performance. I mean, it was a good performance and the banana tango was wonderful, but they have funnier stuff. Also, if you’ve seen V for Vendetta, this could easily have been called B for Banana.

Life Journeys, Louisville Ballet - 3/11/06 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center - The ballet was a welcome rest from the days events and I had a great time, except when I ripped the pocket of my pants on the arm of my seat. Anyway, it opened with Gloria which was choreographed by the ballet’s own Mikelle Bruzina. Stunning, plus, it seemed new from the last time. We think maybe that she’s expanded it some. Four Last Songs was next and it was visually stunning. The massive backdrop provided a wonderful set to dance against. Finally was In The Glow of the Night which we were less than impressed with. It was okay, but I was really tired at that point and I needed to not be sitting. All in all, it was a wonderful evening.

Dance Brazil - 2/25/06 at the Brown Theatre – We went mostly (or at least I did) for the capoeira, a style of martial arts disguised as a dance, and while it was good, I was more captivated by the samba. Also, there was a stunning piece in the earlier part of the show that was just a couple on stage. Extremely sensual and haunting. Yet, the performance of the night goes to the crazy lady sitting next to me who at one point I was not sure if she was going to cry, stroke out or orgasm. She kept making these heavy breathing noises and at one point actually said to herself “Be still”. I was thinking the same thing. The musicians and the dancers were incredible and actually transported me from my seat a couple of times.

Choreographer’s Showcase, Louisville Ballet - 2/4/06 at the Louisville Ballet studio on Main Street – I know that you think ballet is boring. I know that you think that you’d rather insert screws directly into your thumbnails before you’d go see a ballet. Least of all, ballet that is to a degree unpolished. But you don’t know what you’re talking about. The Choreographer’s showcase gives you the chance to see the ballet troupe dancing to choreography by their peers. A lot of it is stunning, some of it is well-intentioned but not necessarily well-conceived, and some of it is…well, some of it I just didn’t care for. Carrie, JenLove and I all had our favorites (mine were “The Raven” (yes, based on the Edgar Allan Poe story) (and yes, the double parentheses were totally necessary) and “The Last Waltz” danced to Ben Folds’ Magic).

Spot of Cheese, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble - 2/3/06 at Rudyard Kipling – Seriously, if you’ve not seen Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble…you have not laughed your ass off. I realize that technically I’m biased because I know members of the troupe personally, but you have no idea how funny this is. Spot of Cheese is a work based on Cervantes’ Don Quixote “distilled to its essence and core value”. I was in tears midway through the show from sheer hilarity and I was laughing my nalgas off when I was asked to participate in the show. You absolutely have to love audience participation. They have another show in March and you absolutely must go see it. I’ll buy you a ticket if necessary…but you must go. Olé!

Ira Glass - 1/28/06 at the Brown Theatre – The host of This American Life on National Public Radio was engaging and brilliant. You would think it would be difficult for a radio host to transfer to the stage, but he managed with grace and aplomb. Starting the evening in complete darkness (much like you would “see” on the radio), he challenged the FCC tactfully and without bitterness. Ira also helped the audience to understand what makes his radio show different and what makes a really good story. It was an outstanding evening and a wonderful learning experience.

The Second City – 11/5/05 at Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center – I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. From the comedy troupe that has spawned many of the comedians we know and love from Saturday Night Live comes a new generation that has it all together. From the physical comedy to lightning fast improv, they showcased high quality comedy, mostly in sketches that lasted 30 to 45 seconds. I think that “Bagpiper” was my favorite. If you can get to Chicago and catch these guys, you should definitely do that.

Points of View, Louisville Ballet – 10/22/05 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – The problem with triple shows at the ballet is that there’s always one you don’t like. Paquita filled that role for me. If you think you hate ballet, this is probably what you imagine when you think of ballet. It was classic “tutu and toe shoes” with crappy old music from 1846. However, usually what follows is amazing. Adam Hougland’s Made to be Broken did not disappoint nor did Troy Game. Hougland’s piece was a masterful work of fire, strength, passion and pain. Even the set, a staircase breaking down into space over the stage, was gorgeous. A finer work has not been seen in recent memory. Troy Game was the comic cap to the evening. Having seen it before (see 3/27/04 entry), we knew what to expect and it was still amazing and humorous and delightful.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble – 10/20/05 at Rudyard Kipling – I’ve never seen the original work my William Shakespeare Aside: or someone else if you believe in grand conspiracies. Still, I don’t think it matters. This play by one of the finest theatre companies in Louisville will make you laugh uproariously and wonder why more people don’t enjoy Shakespeare. Plus, everybody in the production gets to play Puck. I know, you think that’s impossible…that’s why you must go see it. It’s playing this Friday and Saturday and next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The death of Pyramus a la Bugs Bunny is worth the price of admission alone.

The Kusun Ensemble – 10/7/05 at the Brown Theatre – The Kusun Ensemble is a traditional Ghanaian dance & percussion group. They were fantastic. Some of the music was “queer to the ear”, meaning that it didn’t really settle melodically like most Western music does, but the dancing and the music were all very good. Plus, after hearing that their only desire is to perform this music for other people (and not necessarily to profit by it), and all the problems they go through to get passports, visas, etc., you truly begin to enjoy the delight that emanates from the stage. Thanks to JenLove for the tickets and for the wonderful company and conversation at Palermo after the show.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds – 9/25/05 at Great American Ballpark - I got another hat for my collection as I visited the new ballpark in Cincinnati. It’s a gorgeous ballpark with the baseball fan in mind. Every stat and score that you need, you can see from just about any angle in the ballpark. Granted, we had awesome seats thanks to Peggy and her father. It was a little overcast, and the Reds lost, but I saw Jimmy Rollins extend his hit streak to 30 by almost hitting for the cycle and Chase Utley had an inside-the-park homerun. Doesn’t get much more exciting than that. Plus, did I mention the new hat?

Siddown, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble – 11/27/04 at Rudyard Kipling – I love physical comedy. I think Greg and Abigail Maupin are destined to force a comeback of this forgotten art form. Siddown is a classic in the making…and even though you’d swear you’d seen some of this before, it is still fresh and funny and sidesplitting. HORNPIPE! If you have a chance to catch this newest addition to the arts scene in Louisville, I highly recommend it. Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble is a jewel in the ankle bracelet of comedy.

Trash, Squallis Puppeteers – 11/13/04 at MeX, Kentucky Center – Okay, so this was my first puppet show in a while…but it was unlike any puppet show you’ve seen before. It featured multimedia presentation and superb acting. Congrats to my friend Robin Schotter for her outstanding performance as the lead character. Also, congrats to the young woman who played Lucy Furr…a great voice and a brilliant portrayal of her character. If this by some sheer luck comes back near you, go see it. You won’t soon forget it.

Emotions in Motion, Louisville Ballet – 11/6/04 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – The ballet continues to amaze, soothe, frighten, anger and humble me. This evening of performances was no different. Going for Baroque is a wonderful ballet. The only issue I have is that the backdrop eclipses the dancers in its simple treasure. A block of color that widens, lengthens, brightens and fades becomes overwhelming for the fantastic choreography. Echoing of Trumpets is stark and violent. It became almost difficult to watch. It evokes pain and haunting sadness in a war-torn world. Theme & Variations was nice. I know, my 6th grade English teacher said not to use the word nice and it really doesn’t evoke any feeling. Still, I didn’t care for the Tchaikovsky and I know Balantine was a wonderful choreographer…but it just didn’t grab me.

Fever Pitch, Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble – 10/12/04 at Rudyard Kipling – There is absolutely nothing like timely political satire. Moments before the election Aside: Okay, not moments before, nearly a month before, but you know what I mean. Le Petomane’s award winning production of Fever Pitch opened to a small family-sized crowd at Rudyard Kipling, but the laughter filled the room. A little play on the farcical PATRIOT act and a wonderful “dialogue” between Israel and Palestine made for an evening of hilarity. Here’s to more from this newest entry into the arts scene.

Scheherezade, Louisville Ballet – 9/18/04 at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center – I only mention the first piece Les Patineurs because it was part of the program. It was quaint and forgettable. The ice skating effect kind of wears on you. The big deal for the evening was Scheherezade. Beautifully danced, magnificent sets, wonderful story and choreography and I swear Helen Daigle was outstanding. More than outstanding…erotic to say the least. Aside: Yes, erotic is higher on the list than outstanding…you knew that! Drawn in to a world of intrigue and seduction, the performance exceeded expectations that I didn’t even know I had.

Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers – 7/11/04 at Slugger Field – A huge thank you to Erin, Lindsey’s friend, for the use of the box seats. Very plush and a great place to watch the game. There are no bad seats at Slugger, but these were top notch, including the air conditioned box. It was a gorgeous win enjoyed in great company (Lindsey, Jackie, Jason, Robin and my wife), and the Bats pulled off a win versus the evil farm team of the Yankees. If you can swing it, I highly recommend a trip to a Slugger Field box and enjoy the sights and sounds of a baseball game.

Louisville Bats vs. Ottawa Lynx – 7/6/04 at Slugger Field – Okay, so I took my buddy Ryan to see a game. The lightning that nearly killed us, the hail that pelted the grandstand, the wind and rain blowing against the field; all of that made for a terribly interesting game. It was a loss and so I don’t think Ryan is gonna come back to see a game any time soon.

Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – 6/12/04 at Slugger Field
Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – 6/11/04 at Slugger Field – Two games on consecutive nights. The first a game all to myself wherein I realized that all who attend Bats games are not necessarily baseball fans. Unfortunately, they’re families who could care less that there’s a baseball game going on. With all the running to the concession stand and whining children and catching up on last night’s t-ball game. Maybe I was just sitting in a bad section. The second night, I went with my buddy John and it was kind of boring. The game lasted forever and we left in the ninth with the score tied. The Bats lost again. We were sitting in a better section, but I think my experience from the night before made it painful.

Louisville Bats vs. Charlotte Knights- 5/8/04 at Slugger Field – Any night out at the baseball game is a good night. To have spent it with my father, my father-in-law, and my wife was to make it that much better. Of course, we almost missed it. I hadn’t read the tickets and it started an hour earlier than I had previously guessed…still we got there in time to see Jim Chamblee crank a grandslam into the right field seats for a four-run first inning. The Bats won and the evening was beautiful. All was well in Mudville.

Blues for an Alabama Sky – 5/6/04 at Actors Theatre – I was privy to some less than flattering comments about this play before I went. Among them:

• I left at intermission

• Go see the second half

Still, we had the tickets and they weren’t that expensive thanks to a timely email. So we went. Be prepared…this is a 2 1/2 hour play. It definitely had it’s good parts and Darryl Theirse as Guy Jacobs was simply wonderful. Actually, all of the actors were very good and the play was decent albeit long. The music was very good and the sets at Actors are always top notch. I enjoyed it, but I’m left hanging by the ending. What happens to Angel?

Anna Karenina, Louisville Ballet- 4/24/04 at Whitney Hall, KCA – Oh, the double-edged sword of passion and stoicism of 19th century Russia. A true love story that can only be felt in the deepest of hearts. The sets were gorgeous and the dancing was….well, to be real honest the dancing seemed sort of repetitive. I find myself at a crossroads with this. Whether to believe that the choreography was truly the same over and over, or if I’m simply getting more ballet in my diet and I’m starting to remember the moves. Most of the dance was highly engaging and the story was absolutely beautiful. Still, it just wasn’t quite right.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Colorado Rockies – 4/17/04 at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO – My first ever trip to Busch Stadium (yes, I got a hat to go in the collection) was a rollicking success. The Cards triumphed 8-4 over Colorado on Mark McGwire Tribute Day. Scott Rolen smacked homers in back-to-back at-bats and Albert Pujols added a shot in the fifth. I apologize to Ryan and Audrey for missing all the action because they were out getting food, including my hot dog and I also thank them for the ticket.

Mars vs. Venus, Louisville Ballet – 3/27/04 at The Brown Theatre – An evening of dance that contrasts the masculine and feminine? Yes, and it did certainly that. And unfortunately for the girls, the boys won handily. The piece known as Troy was a crowd pleaser and was amazing for it strength, agility and genre-bending dance moves. Les Sylphides was a hit for the women, but it’s strict adherence to classical ballet wore on the senses. The highlight of this piece was the “chorus” or the more derogatory backup dancers in that they contributed more to the show than did the soloists who seemed mechanical. The final piece of the evening whose title escapes me is barely worth mentioning.

Urinetown – 3/11/04 at The Louisville Palace – I know what you’re thinking…”URINE?!” Yes…how can they make a musical about a bodily fluid? And how can it be any good? What’s next, Snotburg? Okay, so the name is a little off, but the musical itself is knee-slapping funny and pokes fun at its own name all the while providing some absolutely wonderful theatrical moments. From the opening narration provided by Officer Lockstock, with side comments from Little Sally, the production breaks all preconceptions about a musical with a funny “potty” name. One caveat…it’s not a happy musical, even though it’s funny. They even tell you it’s not a happy musical…even though I really thought they were going to be wrong. Turns out that a good plot twist will still get you every time. And any musical that has the song “It’s A Privilege To Pee” gets an “A” in my book.

Dance Theatre of Harlem – 2/21/04 at Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center – An outstanding display of rhythm and agility, grace and power. Naturally, my favorite was the beginning set with dance set to music by Aretha Franklin and James Brown. The middle section was a little off Aside: More Stravinsky? Who knew about Stravinsky but the final section Firebird by Stravinsky was gorgeous. The costumes and the storytelling through dance were simply wonderful. I could’ve done with a little more Aretha though.

Balanchine - 2/14/04 at The Brown Theatre – It was a wonderful evening at the ballet. Balanchine Aside:and this will be the understatement of the year was an outstanding choreographer and the Louisville Ballet did a wonderful job. Serenade was probably my favorite piece. I like flow-y costumes and the choreography truly appealed to me. Rubies was very nice but the music was a little disconcerting. At times, Stravinsky seemed out of place with Balanchine. The finale, which I cannot remember the name of, was based on Gershwin tunes and I had seen it last year. I probably enjoyed it last season, but this season just didn’t do it for me. I much preferred Serenade. The performer of the evening had to have been Helen Daigle. She was masterful…also very good was the ever coy Delilah Smith and the charming Joseph Nygren Cox. I highly recommend ballet to those of you who think you won’t like it, but have never actually been. I think you’ll be surprised.

The Lion King – 11/20/03 at Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center – If you haven’t seen this Broadway show, I highly recommend going to the nearest city that it’s playing in and taking it in. This is by far the best “bang for your buck” if for no other reason…the stampede scene. The music, the animals, the…well, it just makes you BELIEVE in theatre, in the inherent goodness of theatre. Plus, it’s a darn fine show.