Day 19 - Tesla and Shakespeare

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” I have known that quote most of my life. Where on earth it came from I had no idea. No idea until now.

Tesla is Art

Kansas City Art Institute and the area that surrounds it is a fantastic place for a long no-real-target type tourist walk about. We walked and walked and walked. As I mentioned yesterday the manner in which they have merged the old with the new is really astounding. For instance, you walk over an old cobbles type bridge with the iron street lights and straight across the road into the Tesla show room. It’s the most incredible thing. You never get the sensation you are in a modern place yet you are surrounded by modern offerings. Shops with a hundred different kinds of oils, liqueurs and whiskeys. Shops with freshly pressed LP singles from the 1990’s, bootleg denim and artisan coffee beans. One could blow a seriously large amount of money walking about those shops.

So we popped into Telsa and the tidy, tight skirt wearing floor manager approaches me as I am jizzing over a full aluminium chassis on display. She picked up our accents and must have though we were loaded. We got to sit in all the cars, get the scoop on the technology, events and up-and-coming attractions. Great experience that you wouldn't get in South Africa. Not unless your Breitling is pimping out. 

Walked and walked some more.

We took a walk around the Institute campus, ate our first salad in two weeks and headed back to the hotel to get ready for our evening out.

Two blocks from our hotel is a civic park area. The park is shaped to create an amphitheater with a high ridged lip that leads down a slope in a cone like fashion. There, at the bottom of the incline, is a small stage set up with a two dimensional cardboard backdrop propped up. We saw an advertisement that there is a play on here today. Barbara and I sat down on the bank and began to nibble away on our little box of treats. We are not expecting much, a school-play kind of vibe.

The show starts with Matthew Williamson (Star Trek and E.R actor). “Welcome all to the Kansas City Art Institutes Heart of America Festival. Presenting to you, William Shakespeare’s: Twelfth Night”

The simple two dimensional stage gave off a rumble and all of a sudden bits of it moved back and forth, the stair cases slid out on rails and the props become an incredibly functional, three dimensional and interactive moving parts. 

There was multiple raised platforms, doors that swing open and closed leading in between little rooms. Barbara and I were really impressed by this because, for 20 bucks as a optional donation, we had no clue of the caliber of entertainment a simple play in the park could put on.

The production was spot on, the sound and lighting technicians built a living and immersive environment for the actors to display their talents. It was truly impressive.

The weather held up beautifully while Barbara and I sipped away on sparkling wine with our little cheese and crackers lunch box set. What a great experience.

After the play we took the long way back to the hotel and headed off to bed. Tomorrow we head from here to St Louis.

Tomfooleries Restaurant Bar