As a year-ending trip of sorts for the IB class of ’08, our English teachers organized a trip down to Niagara On the Lake to see a matinée of one of George Bernard Shaw’s plays at the Royal George Theatre (not really all that royal, but pretty nice anyway). We got down there by chartered school bus and after about two hours bouncing up and around in that hellish metal box, we arrived with empty stomachs and full bladders. I had never been to Niagara On the Lake before (but a lot of others have) so after a short introduction video and a tour of one theater’s (there are several in the area apparently) backstage areas and wardrobe workshops, we had a boxed lunch and set off (myself with Amy and a few of her friends) to explore the town before the show.
There’s something charming but slightly annoying about the quaint little town. I mean, everything there looked antique and authentic as far as old stuff goes, but that (I think) the town is mostly a tourism destination rather than a normal town left an unsettling feeling in the air. Not really disturbing mind you, but it just stick in the back of my mind that all these cool shops, neat oddities, and novel discoveries were put there as a sort of attraction. Sort of like a fake genuineness. Anyway, I’m sure the townsfolk are nice and not at all conspirators for tourist’s monies. The cushions in their theaters were particularly cushy, though.
While walking through the town, we came upon a few interesting items:
- A collection of exotic/huge insects preserved on display
- Several crotch-height wooden giraffe sculptures
- A sheep-in-a-can, tilt-and-bleat noise-maker-toy thing (you know what I mean)
- “Sex Apples” in a chocolate + fruits shop
- A metal spider sculpture riding a disproportional metal moose sculpture
- Squirrel, rabbit, and frog sculptures, each with Arc Reactor rings in their chests (Iron Fauna?)
- Sheet metal cow sculptures with spring-bouncing head, tail, and even udder
- A huge chunk of caramel fudge yet to be cut or used as bludgeoning device
- Pretty flowers (no, I am not dainty, I am using the word “pretty” here in the most manly way possible: to describe flowers) on trees by the sidewalks
- Horses yet to be reassembled into flying bison (yes, the yip-yip kind)
I wish I had a camera to take a picture of the coolest stuff. All in all, not a bad time on the town, fondling everything and almost breaking a few things. Also, Amy chides me for touching stuff (like, stuff for sale, you perverts) because I happen to be ridiculously clumsy around her. It is not my fault, really, if you think about it.
I brought a pillow yesterday, partially for use on the bus ride back and maybe for during the show if it was boring (which it wasn’t). It served as a nice armrest for Amy and I during the show and a hugging softy for the trip home (to prevent my head from bobbing so much). From now on, every time I go on a long trip, I’ll make a habit of bringing a pillow.
The show itself was “Getting Married” by Shaw and it was set in an early 1900′s time frame (I think). As the title suggests, the main (or actually, only) thing being discussed for the full three hours was the institution of marriage and different people’s critiques or thoughts about it. I thought some of the characters’ messages were somewhat insightful and it definitely provoked me to consider some previously unconsidered notions about what a marriage might mean to the two people involved. One line in particular stuck out and struck me, even if I don’t fully understand what it means just yet: “Getting married is a mistake, but not getting married is an even bigger mistake.” Ooo! *does hocus pocus finger thing* Deep. Right? I can’t really tell, but it sure sounds like one of those insightful proverbs that can sound both empty and profound at the same time. I can’t say I agreed with a lot of the stuff the play said to me, but I did find more than a few “Oh hai!” moments to nod at. It was also unexpectedly funny at many moments. New found respect for previously unknown writer, I has it.