Jerry Springer: The Opera and other enjoyments

It's been a busy few weeks since our return from the Trek. We had a wonderful weekend at the beach on the New Jersey shore two weekends ago. Early Sunday morning we watched huge thunder and tornado-like clouds come up the shoreline in a matter of minutes and then pelt down rain and hail. What a sight.

But of equal fun, we entertained friends from Paris for a few days and enjoyed taking a 13 year old shopping at the largest discount mall in Virginia. A young woman in a candy shop, regrettably budgeted!

And we managed a few good meals, of course, with some lovely wines. Our venture to the mussels restaurant on H Street met with a good respone. Dr Granville Moore's. At the beach we enjoyed eating at Gertrudes in Ventnor, NJ. A BYO place; it had very good veal and lamb.

And Jerry Springer! The opera opened in London a few years ago, seen there by our friend Wally. It had a short run in NY, I believe, but Wally noted that this production at Studio Theater in Washington was far better than the London production. It is gross, scatalogical, sacreligious, scathing in commentary, lewd, and whatever other adjectives to describe disgusting you can throw at it. But at the same time, it is clever, well put together, describes the human condition and its search for 15 minutes of fame, and looks at some of the more basic questions facing us.

The high points include a klavern of tap dancing Ku Klux Klansmen, Jesus played but a short, and very round, Filipino dressed in a baby diaper who "wasn't there" claimed Satan, when he needed him. God arrives dressed almost as an Abba extra on his motorbike surrounded by feathery angels. And, Springer is true to life, a consummate con-man bringing out the worst.

Highly recommended for a hilarious evening in the remaining two weeks of its run.