Of Parades and Mockingbirds

Our humble town abounds in cultural activities of all stripes. Rarely was that more apparent than it was this last weekend.

On Saturday, Your Boulevardier partook of the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade. (Alas, we did not try the chili cook-off or pancake breakfast that preceded the event, and likely we will not watch the rodeo itself next weekend.) Apart from the large-scale showmanship of the parade, the small details made the event quirky and memorable: the giant bag of french fries working the crowd; the Raider Nation assembling at Vella's before the parade (and inadvertently frightening small children); the horses with spots of glitter on their rumps; marching bands from both Castro Valley and Hayward High Schools; the truckloads of bored Little Leaguers who would perk up and wave their flags when parade watchers shouted "Go [insert team name here]!" The parade seemed to have particular appeal to the very old and the very young, all of whom were together outdoors on a chilly morning.

On a much more intimate scale, Your Boulevardier and some family members attended the matinee of the Douglas Morrisson Theatre's production of To Kill a Mockingbird on Mother's Day. The production is simple, clean, and impressive. The film of the same name is filled with such memorable performances that one can only imagine the challenge that faces actors at a community theatre who are called upon to walk around in such large, well-known shoes. The performers at our Little Theatre filled those shoes most commendably -- particularly, in Your Boulevardier's opinion, Chris Chapman as Atticus, whose genuine rage in the courtroom scenes brought the audience to attention; Dawn Edwards as Calpurnia, whose loving threats against the disobedient Scout, Jem, and Dill brought out anxious laughter; and Larry Appleton as Bob Ewell, who delivered his hateful lines with startling conviction and without a trace of caricature. Your Boulevardier cannot recommend the production highly enough. (He also notes with respectful amusement that Hugh Helm, playing Judge Taylor, and Sylvester Williams, playing Reverend Sykes, could probably make a living as stand-ins for United States Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas.)