Going to see the Mikado tonight. Remember that the first production of Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan is the subject of the movie Topsy Turvey. For many reasons, TT is one of my favorite movies, but primarily because of how it deals with so many aspects of production. As a producer myself, I am well acquainted with the jealousies, inequities, the skills, the personalities involved with putting on a musical performance. I'll be thinking of those things as we watch--lines, pitch and rhythm, costumes, manner of inflection, egos, conducting, back ups to the primary singers, opening the house, costumes for the ticket takers, ushers, choreography, props, seamstresses, wigmakers, make-up artists, movement backstage, stagehands, sets, painters, the audience and their response, the feelings of the composer and librettist (not in this case for they are long away from us), the people related to the players and how they feel about the performances.

Before we hear Mikado there are many photos to take at the Southern Living Idea House this morning, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon. Accomodations were impossible in Brevard, but we finally managed something not very grand.

Today we bought a treasure as we often do on our travels. All 'round our house are examples of our trips, watercolors from Kill Devil Hills, chalk drawings from NYC and SF, photos, a quilt, and furniture from the Amish country, pottery from New Orleans, now a platter from Highlands, phabulous photos of Yosemite. Here is a photo from Tallulah Gorge. You gotta love the Nikon D-200 which grabbed this shot without a flash in a woefully underlighted setting. Getting some other wonderful pictures too.