The Fredösphere

A few years ago I got into my head the idea that it would be fun to wear a long overcoat with some kind of bold, tweedy pattern.  I was hoping for some fat-yarned thing, ideally in a coarse, high-contrast herringbone.  After searching in vain for a long time, and wading through vast piles of beige raincoats, I finally found a something I could live with:  not high-contrast, but a dark herringbone of brown and black.  I wear it as my everyday winter coat.  I'm happy with it.

Until yesterday, when the wifeösphere and I attended the University of Michigan's production of Michael Daugherty's Jackie O.  I noticed Bright Sheng in the crowd -- and he was wearing a fat-yarned coarse-patterned black and white herringbone overcoat.  Sheeeeeeeeeng!  Once again, the advantage is yours!  You are a worthy opponent indeed, but do not think you can defeat me forever, oh no.  I shall have the last laugh, ha ha!

Anyway, I've been looking forward to seeing Jackie O, and it did not disappoint.  The opera is hugely entertaining.  The students did an excellent job.  I'd especially like to mention Seth Mease Carico in the role of Aristotle Onassis, who had to memorize a list of dozens of cocktail names (Affinity, Angel Face, Barbie's Special, Beachcomber, Betsy Ross, Between-the-Sheets, Bloody Mary, Boomerang, Cablegram, Chanticleer, Cloud 9, etc. etc.) then sing the list again in a revised version, and dance and sing falsetto and whistle (the pressure!).  He did it all and enjoyed himself in the process.

One part surprised me because it is not on the CD.  The second act began with a recording of JFK's inaugural address, while three paparazzi tap danced.  Classic post-modernism, and just a little impious.  Still, the Ann Arbor crowd gave a lusty, partisan cheer to the stirring words of the slain president, no doubt reminding themselves as they did that he was an anti-communist tax-cutter.