I loved the city of Berkeley the moment I stepped off the train. As I made my way off the BART (Bay Area Regional Transit), I was met by a station musician (you know the ones playing their guitar for change), and she was singing about peace. She was literally playing her guitar for CHANGE. I knew right then, that I would love this little city.
Berkeley is filled with old hippies and hippies-in-training. As a result, the city has a very chill vibe that I dug a lot. (Yeah, I say dig/dug now). No one was in a hurry and everyone looked...well, happy. The main strip, Shattuck Avenue, was filled with a veritable bevy with quirky eateries, movie theaters (two), bookstores and playhouses - all very "me."
The show I saw was called, After the Quake. An all Asian-American cast brought to life the short stories of Haruki Murakami. For the non-Murakami scholars, he is a very fanciful writer who juxtaposes reality and fantasy in order to parallel traditional themes of love and loss, and to examine our collective subconscious. (God, I sound smart).The script was dynamite. Very powerful language and carefully drawn characters. The only issue I took with the play was that it was VERY presentational. I felt that I could have been more affected had the actors themselves been affected by what they were saying. It was definitely the director's choice, but one I would not have made. I prefer my theater to be full of raw, guttural vulnerability and emotion. I'm not so in to the presentational esoteric interpretation of emotion. It's kinda like the difference between actually eating food and reading about the digestive process.
All and all, California , you're OK by me. You treated me well, and kept me on my toes. You kept me company, and entertained. You taught me a lot. And most importantly, you didn't kill me. So, I guess this is goodbye.
Until we meet again...San FranOakeley!
3 comments:
Amanda, last month, on twitter (whilst in CA): "So I apparently belong in Berkeley." So glad you got to fit it into your trip!
It is AMAZING, I wanted to eat at Pollo's but I didn't have time. So I grabbed a quick bite at the Kabob joint. I'm going to dread my hair and buy a guitar and move there.
I am so glad you enjoyed California!! Please come back and next time venture south, or hopefully I will be gainfully employed by then and I can come up and visit you!
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