Three Days of Culture and a Lions Win

Thursday night we saw Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, a superb production at Meadowbrook Theatre. Holmes, with his assistant Dr. Watson, finally vanquishes his nemesis Professor Moriarty. Typical Holmes logic and strategy leads to the final fight between Holmes and Moriarty above a great precipice. We are led to believe both are killed, but, alas, Holmes reveals himself in the last scene.

Jim and Sandy Bade organized another trip to Stratford, Ontario, this time to see the musical Oklahoma at the Festival Theatre Friday. We loved the show. Our seats were second row center so we could see all detail in costume, props, facial expression, etc. We were concerned at times that the dancers would fly off the stage into our laps! Before the show we took a tour of the warehouse for all the theatres in Stratford. 50,000 costumes, 10,000 pairs of shoes, thousands of props, shops for making and maintaining all this. Found it interesting that it takes about 7 support people working on a production for every actor in the production--costuming, wigs, set building, etc. We gained a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes efforts. (Brenda, only a forty minute delay returning to US.)

Disney music was the theme for Saturday's Detroit Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert. All great music and we recognized that from the earlier movies, such as Snow White and Pinocchio, and some of the later that were made into stage musicals, such as Lion King, but were somewhat unfamiliar with the more current movies (Aladdin, The Hunchback, Hercules). We will try to check these out of the library and watch them this winter.

We stayed downtown overnight. In the morning we walked the International RiverWalk (map)from Rivard Park to Joe Louis Arena-- garden rest areas, a fountain, fishermen, joggers, Detroit Princess cruise boat, and a carousel closed for the season. Most impressive is an Underground Railroad commemorative near Hart Plaza that honors those who helped the "flight to freedom." Eventually the walk will go from JLA to east of Belle Isle. Cool temperatures and mostly cloudy sky invigorated us for a late breakfast and a walk to Ford Field. We made the transition from arts culture to sports culture.

Yep, the Lions are 6-2 after they thumped--I mean thumped--the Denver Broncos. It was such a one-sided game that fans left the stadium as if the Lions were getting thumped! The running game was effective early which opened passing lanes later. And although Kitna was not particularly effective from a completion percentage standpoint, he did execute a two-play 95-yard touchdown drive with two long completions. A few Bronco fans were around us, but they did not make much noise after halftime. Heading to the playoffs? Who knows. Their record at this point points in that direction, but they still have half a season. Green Bay twice, Minnesota, and New York Giants will be good tests.