Somehow I think this soon-to-be posh stationary store is targeting a shorter clientele than the tall young lady with the wiener dog, don’t you? When I first moved to this area, Walnut Creek was a sleepy mid-sized town built over farmland previously used for. . . yup, you got it. Growing nuts. Hey, it’s California – what did you expect? Now it’s almost a city.
Last month I posted pictures of an outdoor stage being readied for a show. Well, guess what? My friend and I walked over one Sunday and saw the matinee.
Moments before the show.
On a sizzling day in bright sunshine, you have to stretch your imagination because the climatic scene takes place late at night. The show, Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie, is a whodunit set entirely on the deck on a cruise ship (the audience is actually sitting in the Nile). Between scenes we were asked by the director to pretend it was lights out as they played Egyptian music and moved props around the stage.
They handled the issue of intermission by having the character who’d just been shot leap to his feet and yell “Intermission!”
According to the director’s note, the play was almost blacklisted in London. The reason: the cast included a maid and the Ministry of Labour objected. It’s hard to imagine an Agatha Christie play being offensive to anyone, isn’t it?
Check out other ThursdayDoors over at Norm Frampton’s place.
Saying nothing in particular 
Loved this Jan – that must have been a fun Sunday afternoon 😀
Thanks Norm. It was!
I’m glad you got to see the play, I love that the ‘dead’ actor jumped up and announced the intermission. 🙂
Thanks Jean! Open air performances have to get creative!
Sounds like a fun kind of performance. I’ve seen a few odd productions, and I was always amazed at how the cast makes it work.
I agree – they’re amazing.
What great imagination the director must have! Yes, the dead guy, the audience sitting in the Nile, and pretending the lights are out … I’ll be sure to go to next year’s play.
These kinds of productions are often the most fun. This one sounds like it fell in that category 🙂
It was!
Cute! I always love the more unorthodox door shares, and this one was great.
I do too!
How was sitting in the Nile? 🙂 The door looks like it has eyes.
janet
It was a little chilly and all those poisonous asps were a bit of a problem. ; )
In this situation, you don’t want to just sit on your asp, do you? 🙂
Looks wonderful.
T’was, thank you.
I would love to watch an outdoor play. Never happens here.
Too much rain?
I don’t know the reason… May be they do it in Dublin somewhere, I don’t know. I love outdoor theater, and brass band playing in the park 🙂
Jan, do they still hold The Shelly (I hope I spelled it correctly) awards in Walnut Creek? Been a few years since I lived there. Love Walnut Creek (still do), but we moved shortly after the 89′ quake.
I think so. They’re completely redoing the Broadway Plaza – you probably wouldn’t recognize it
I have to get down there and check it out. Love downtown Walnut Creek even if it is getting bigger. :O)
I liked your description of the neighborhood production, Jan…made me smile. Funny to think of a maid in the cast as being objectionable.
You know bureaucrats! They don’t always make sense.
Love the creativity involved in announcing intermission! Sounds like a fun afternoon 🙂