On the Avon River Again

Jim, Sandy, and we went to Stratford, Ontario for two days of theater. We left Wednesday morning and returned Thursday evening.

Wednesday afternoon we had lunch at Bentley's, our traditional gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Then saw the premier production of Palmer Park. Palmer Woods is a residential area in Detroit (it's called Palmer Park in the play) with large, elegant homes. Some are English Tudor, others colonial, and a few Frank Lloyd Wright. Rather expensive. Homes to the wealthy before there was Birmingham. In 1968, after the Detroit riots of the previous year, a young white family moves into one of the homes because white flight after the riots has depressed the housing costs. They become friends with black family neighbors. The story tells of how they try to keep the neighborhood and school stable amid pressures otherwise and their relationships with neighbors over the next five years.

I was afraid, after the story line, that we would be preached at about race relations in Detroit, but that was not the case. Great acting made this a memorable performance. Our first time at the Studio Theatre, newer and smaller than the others with three-sided seating around the stage.

A light dinner followed that evening by The Music Man at the Avon Theatre. Jim and Sandy saw it earlier in the season and enjoyed it so much they wanted to see it again. I would also see it again.

Thursday we killed the morning reading and walking about a shopping mall, then had a light lunch at Fellini's. The afternoon performance was Cabaret which Kathy and I had seen in Detroit but was new to Jim and Sandy. Afterward we drove back to the States and chatted about the three great performances we had seen.

Now to plan next year's trip.