Recently returned from a trip to LA to visit a friend of almost 50 years in celebration of a big birthday. We did the vintage LA thing — lunch at the Farmer’s Market on Fairfax where my Dad took his lunch break back 1950s. In those days, the place was a favorite haunt of movie stars — Cary Grant was a regular.
Finally made it to The Watts Towers, a construction worthy of Antonio Gaudi, built in the 1920s by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia in the shape of a ship. Seventeen towers, walls, sculptures, and pavement are covered with mosaics — vivid tile and pot chards, glass insulators, bottles, and seashells. Rodia walked 12 miles to the beach from downtown LA to gather the shells.
Visited the new showroom for Bauer Pottery, of early California pottery fame, now in Frogtown on the LA River. Vibrant oil jars, vases, bowls, and dinnerware made from the old molds were stacked to the ceiling. We’ll do Chinatown, the Central Market, and Angel’s Flight next time.
There was even water in the LA river and kayakers! No sign of ICE agents. LA is a great big freeway. These days GPS is a must, otherwise you’ll take a wrong turn and end up in Cucamonga, like I did once, or was it Pacoima? Siri told us to take the 110 to the 2 to the 5 to the 110 to get to Frogtown which was no easy feat. For the trip home we ignored Siri and took Riverside Dr. all the way back to my friend’s place near the Hollywood sign. We skirted Griffith Park where Natalie Wood and James Dean filmed “Rebel without a Cause,” and Forest Lawn where tout Hollywood rests — Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Bogie; the list goes on.
So Cal folk are evolving and adapting differently than we small towners — nerves of steel, ability to drive relaxed in the fast lane, while listening to GPS on their phones and also looking at the phone because Siri or whoever she is can’t keep up. All this while talking to the poor soul in the passenger seat. In Benicia we walk or drive a few blocks and sometimes even chew gum.
Leave Benicia for a few days and you’ll miss something. Arriving back on First Street I noticed that Diana’s Bakery across from the old State Capitol is gone — an old standard for many years where you could get sandwiches and pastries, cookies, and imported foodstuffs. Evidently, she will take her business on-line and also work the various farmers markets. Good luck Diana! Scarecrow’s are once again lining First Street. Has it been a year? Artist and arts advocate Pam Dixon sold her home/studio and is moving to Arizona. Change is constant.
Walked up to the No King’s Day rally on Saturday, a sparkling fall day, and passed groups of women dressed in black gowns with pointy hats, gathered outside shops and cafes for the Witching Wine Walk. Further up Gazebo Park was packed with joyful, peaceful protestors carrying homemade signs which ran the gamut from outrageous, to sobering, to downright hilarious. Roger Straw, founder of the Benicia Independent, estimated there were 1200 in attendance. Both sides of First St. were deep with demonstrators who wound around the block onto Military. Organizer Susan Street and the Indivisable team pulled off the biggest Benicia pro-democracy crowd yet. Drum beats, cowbells, and chants filled the air as a bubble machine spewed translucent orbs. There were twin dinosaurs with women riders and a sign that said, “Congress! Grow a pair!” with an image of two pears. Three humungous bald eagle inflatables walked in dignity as a rainbow colored unicorn worked the crowd. Frogs representing resistance and humor were all over the place. Lots of honks and just a few middle finger salutes from passing cars were answered with “We love you!” One of my favorite signs was “This is my first protest. I’m 83. Hi Rachel Maddow.”
Friday eve we had tickets to opening night of Benicia Theater Group’s The Fantasticks. Stop the presses — this musical is a must see! Based on the music of Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, not the “What’s New Pussycat” Tom cat, but the older playwright, The Fantasticks is the longest running Off Broadway musical of all time. Was familiar with the music but never knew its origins. Ted Bigornia, the Narrator who plays El Gallo, dressed in head to toe black, sat behind me in the audience prior to the start of the show. Was thrilled when the curtain opened and he strode to the stage and sang —
“Try to remember the kind of September When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.” I got chills.
Adria Swan returns as Director after her success with the outstanding The Odd Couple last year. The cast of eight are all seasoned actors, musicians, and vocalists offering flawless performances. What a cast! I can’t imagine a better production even off Broadway. Move over New York, New York. Start spreading the news.
For those of you who have had difficulty hearing all the lines at past performances, you are in for a treat. Each player has been outfitted with a wi-fi earpiece and microphone connected to a blue tooth hidden in their clothing. What this means is that the dialogue and songs can be heard perfectly all the way to the back of the theater. Yay! BTG is holding an auction at each performance to pay for the new sound system. Or go to: beniciathetregroup.org.
Natalie Hawkins playing the girl Luisa is a marvel with a clear soprano voice and star quality stage presence. In real life she’s a full time vocalist, recording artist, and composer.
Ezra Hernandez plays Matt, Luisa’s love interest, with charisma and humanity. In addition to being an actor, singer, dancer, and director, he’s a “fight choreographer.” He and El Gallo stage a sword fight almost as exciting as Anthony Banderas and Anthony Hopkins in The Mask of Zorro.
Benicia native Parker Soughers who not that long ago played in Benicia High School productions, provides comic relief as Mortimer, the Man Who Dies. He slays it with his “over-the-top faux death scene. Five stars and a standing ovation.
Letters From Benicia 