On Entertainment

Yesterday was a day of entertainment. First I was entertained and then I helped provide entertainment. Both are activities which can feed the soul.

First we went to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for their production of Shakespeare's Macbeth. I find it impossible to say bad things about the productions at the Guthrie- and this one, directed by uber-director Joe Dowling, is no exception. Shakespeare remains the epitome of timeless drama, of course. Macbeth is among the top class of the plays. It is a relentless play. From the opening death to the final one, it is a play that is impaled on humanity's greed, power-lust, and incredible tendency toward murder. Dowling and cast bring that to such a raw edge that one walks out as if torn apart themselves. What an achievement.

I guess entertainment in the "pop" sense of the word wouldn't apply to Macbeth. Of course, as WordNet defines it, entertainment is "an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention." Macbeth is sure that! Riveting is a good description. Thought-provoking and as contemporary as the latest news from just about anywhere in the world. Good drama that shakes your soul is entertainment in the fullest and most important sense of the word.

In the evening the Rochester Big Band played for a Valentine's Dance in nearby Pine Island. I play trumpet and am the announcer for the group and had a great evening playing the swing and big band hits while people danced, visited, and had a good time together. There was a wide range of ages, and all enjoyed jumping and dancing- fast or slow, swing, waltz, or hugging close to their partner.

It was obviously a lot lighter and more relaxing to be at a fun dance than being challenged by Shakespeare to examine my own human frailties. That also allowed me to decompress from the other experience (which also included getting a parking ticket at lunch. But that's another story.) I wasn't seeking to avoid- entertainment doesn't have to be that. I was seeking to let it settle in so that I could get the needed distance for the meaning to sink in.

Life is made up of all these different things. All work and no play makes one dull, said old Ben Franklin. But all play and no depth can make one quite frivolous. Balance in life needs both. I was glad to be "entertained" and to help provide it for others yesterday.