The Deacon and I had an evening with the arts Friday night. She had just completed the work for her doctorate-at least I think she’s through-and had wanted to go out to dinner followed by a night at the theatre.
I have to say that the old Argenta section of North Little Rock was hopping. The restaurant and the surrounding streets were packed. I think it was a combination of things. One, people are sick of staying home and two, it wasn’t 200 degrees in the shade for the first time in weeks. It was nice to get out of the house like we used to pre-plague.
And three, the Argenta Community Theatre has been packing them in with their production of “Memphis” which is a show set in mid-fifties Memphis (ostensibly) concerning a white disc jockey who falls in love with a black singer and the familial and societal problems that ensue because of this relationship.
I cannot fault the production at all. The cast and crew were great. The audience-packed into the ACT while the Fire Marshal wasn’t looking-loved it. There was much foot stomping, clapping and hollering. It was fun to be with a bunch of folks from all walks of life that were genuinely having a good time.
Granted I am no fan of musical theatre, even though I’ve done some of it back in the day. But that was mainly to meet girls. “Memphis” works really hard to make its audience believe that music and love can act as a bridge between the races despite the fact that Martin Luther King was destined to get whacked some 10 years after the time in which the show is set. Which struck me as a little hokey. Maybe because it’s not true. Or as the Deacon said, “I liked it. But the show tried to do too much.”
And that is a pretty good way to put it. But there were far worse ways to spend an evening than taking in unusually good community theatre in old Argenta.
Speaking of the Deacon-and the arts-while she is out doing the Work of the Lord tonight, I’m going to take in a program of chamber music. Get this. At the White Water Tavern. I think this is genius. The old WWT has had a past that is checkered as all get out. But the folks that are running it now have cleaned it up and serve real food while slinging whiskey and putting various musical acts on their little stage.
Tonight’s musicians are from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. They will be performing mostly in quartet form. This should pull in an interesting crowd. And I’m really looking forward to it.
Going out to listen to live music 2 out of 3 nights this weekend. How about that?
Maybe the worst really is over after all. Maybe we are back to some semblance of normal.
