THOUGHTFUL OLDER GUYS

 

Always thoughtful Cal

Drawing on wisdom from the past, Cal Lee offered these thoughts: First: "There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot" (Plato). Second, in honor of today's guest speaker: "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" (Hamlet).

 

GUESTS

 

Rotarians:       

John Sherry, Lafayette Nooner

            Buddy Brodwin, same

            Mike Ball, Walnut Creek Sunrise

            Alicia Cragholm, delightful deja vu                          

                       

Other:             

Sharon Simpson, community multi-benefactor

            Laurie Ware

            Agatha-Sue Lee

            Mariam Worsham                  

            Ashley Englehart

            Jeff Hawkins (friend of Don Jenkins)

            Jonathan Moscone, speaker

            Marilyn Langbehn, CalShaker in many ways

 

EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES      

 

 

Home Team event last Saturday, with six members of Clayton Sunrise working with our troops. In fact, eight other clubs have adopted our Home Team process.

 

The Marks "brothers" doing their thing

The prez and Hays Englehart made a gallant effort to keep us on board at Postino, but their diplomacy was thwarted by the decision having been predetermined by the other side. (We were sort of tipped off when we were shunted to the side room this morning.) The same twosome and others are working hard on a new venue. Mark graciously expressed gratitude to Postino for seven good years, and especially to staff member, Debra, who was left alone when Andres headed for the door last week.

 

Rich, Mr. persistence personified

Rich Shearer again explained the importance of our May 18th Gala (it keeps us afloat), and in his inimitable fashion, bugged everyone to turn in those lists of potential attendees as targets for the invitation committee.

Buddy Brodwin of the Lafayette Club apparently knew of this club's level of morals, for he unveiled a Super Bowl pool which seemed to attract a goodly number.

 

Brad Davis happily announced that the Endowment Board approved our supporting the Garden Park Apartments joinder with Lakeview Village, a much bigger operation. He

Good news all around from Brad

was especially interested in supplying them for the very important activity of Homework Day for the kids.

 

Maybe Brad was also happy that his 38th anniversary (with Carol, not with LSR) was today. He browbeat the manager into letting them in Dunsmuir House where they had been matrimonified.

 

Steve has done the unthinkable!

Steve Ware, for a $100 fee, was allowed to tell about his birthday, the main event of which was his purchase of a fixer-upper power boat.

 

Other celebrants were Polly Bernson (one year with the club), Kevin Croak (19 years), Gillett Johnson (five years), Mark and Claire Roberts (working out their birthdays somehow), and Mark Larks (birthday).

 

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON

Jonathan, the major mover and shaker!

  

Buddy Burke, impresario, had the job of introducing Jonathan Moscone, artistic director of CalShakes (formally the California Shakespeare Festival). He had to do a little editing to avoid the usual Brad Davis complaint about lengthy intros. There was plenty of material, but the bottom line is that Jonathan has taken CalShakes from a ho-hum theater to a nationally recognized world-class group, according to no less of an authority than Sharon Simpson.

 

In fact, Jonathan thought CalShakes had the potential for greatness when he first saw it in Berkeley. It was started there 39 years ago, but was kicked out of Berkeley courtesy of an irate citizen whose sleep apparently was being disturbed. Berkeley's loss was definitely Orinda's gain. Many of the Berkeley board members are still on board, and, generally, the leadership qualifies as visionary.

 

Jonathan emphasized that a business model in the arts has to be creative to survive. People must see it's worth their money, and even more important, their time. This is especially true in the Bay Area where the main competition is not so much other theatre groups, as activities unrelated to the theatre. However, one great advantage is the weather which allows for the bucolic outdoor venue. (Places like Chicago are either too hot or too cold.

 

He has been rejuvenated over the recent past and is ready to take on five years more. One aspect that intrigues him is that with the world of technology, people who previously sat back and waited for things to happen are now much more participatory. This is especially true of the young, and CalShakes is intervening in schools where the arts don't exist and enabling the students to engage in the world of the imagination, balancing off the literal world.

 

The old approach of dictating excellence and expecting the audience to conform is giving way to sharing art that exists in many places and ways. CalShakes is moving with this trend. An example is the bluesy, poetic "Spunk" tales presented last year, which are about as far from Shakespeare as you can get.

 

Next season will continue to partly diverge from Shakespeare. Only two of the four plays, Romeo & Juliet and The Winter's Tale, will be by the Bard. The ever-devastating Oscar Wilde will contribute Lady Windermere's Fan. And most interesting is the first production of the season, directed by Jonathan himself - American Night by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash, very topical in this day when immigration issues are on the front burner.

 

Jonathan spoke glowingly about the CalShakes Theater experience, including the trek up the hill to the food and wine, the gardens, and the creative art which will be including more community artists. One interesting exception to this happy scene, however, was the killing of a rattlesnake who invaded the stage during a performance.

 

Great Q&A from a wrapt audience

Questions ensued, which Jonathan was so into answering that the intended show on the screen was forgotten. First, what they do at the schools. 300 scholarships for Oakland and Lafayette students. 5,000 students at the theater, with artists visiting the schools both before and after the performance. Artists spending more time at the schools, especially in Oakland and at OIS. Increase of literary skills and also creative skills applicable to math, English, etc., are some of the objectives. Jonathan is interested in knowing about other schools which might be interested.

 

The play "Ghost Light", a collaboration among Jonathan, Bill Rauch of the Oregon Festival, and Tony Tecone of Berkeley Rep, was the subject of a big Lafayette Sun article this very morning. It is the first time Jonathan has directed his life into his work. It made him a more integrated artist with more tools. It has made him honor his father more, although perhaps representing him less.

 

Chris Laszcz-Davis eloquently praised CalShakes as one of the best of the many theater groups she has seen all over everywhere.

 

Jonathan was not reticent about making us aware of the "One Great Party", the fundraiser at the Ritz Carlton on March 16th. Alex Arnold should go. He owes it to them after winning the "blue raffle" conducted at the end of the presentation, which gives him two tickets to any performance next season, plus an appropriate quantity of wine. (Appropriate for "the pope".)

 

Well, Buddy did it again, producing a stellar speaker. Perhaps next week as well, when we'll learn all about the Delta from Bobby Barrett. Friend of Ken Kosich. Oh well, nobody's perfect.

 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

 

 

 

Friday, Feb 15, 7a.m. Eyefluence: Transforming Intent Into Action With the Eyes

He brought us Leapfrog, Livescribe and the cool baseball with the world on it. And that terrific globe that you touch and it talks to you. We are about to see what new, dazzling idea Jim Marggraff is bringing to life and into the marketplace!

 

Friday, February 22, 7a.m. Rich Shearer Exposes Himself

 

Friday, March 1, 7a.m. The Real Super Bowl Advertising Review. Welcome back to Ted Kluber with his annual review of the best and worst Super Bowl ads. Ted has been an executive with major firms participating in the Super Bowl advertising derby and offers entertaining insights.

 

Friday, March 8, 7a.m. Is Flipper Happy? Our own Ashley Englehart knows all about that!

 

Friday, March 15, 7a.m. Pending

 

Friday March 22, 7a.m. Humanitarian Projects funded by a coalition of 18 District 5160 Rotary Clubs. Walt Schafer has a presentation on the multi-club, multi-year, multi-focused, sustainable series of worldwide projects, including Lamorinda Sunrise and the Mt. Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania since 2008.

 

Friday, March 29, 7a.m. Alex Arnold Exposes Himself (and all his dirty political secrets).

 

Friday, April 5, 7a.m. The Ever Popular Club Assembly

 

Friday, April 12, 7a.m. Pending

 

Friday, April 19, 7a.m. Camp Royal In Review. Steve Ware will host an all-encompassing cavalcade of past and present Camp Royal winners

 

Friday, April 26, 7a.m. Spike Speicher Exposes Himself (Almost willingly)

 

Friday, May 3, 7a.m. 4-Way Speech Contest! Back by popular demand with the latest crop of uber-talented competitors as they assert their always creative renditions of a 4-Way Test.

   

HOME Team

 

Saturdays -  March 23, May 25 - 8 a.m. Gary's shop