Tuesday Afternoon, Day 13

Well, dear friends, this is it, the last posting from Africa. The final class is over and last goodbyes said. Tomorrow morning at 8:30, Wendy will drive me over Ou Kaapsewig for the last time to the airport for my 11:30 flight (5:30 am VA time).
My last view of this incredible land will quickly give way to the deeper interior as we fly north to J'berg and then 4 hrs later on toward DC. Pray we are on schedule for the 6:00 am Thurs. arrival as I only have a 2 1/2 hr layover and must claim baggage and clear customs before heading for the final gate and the flight to Greensboro. This evening will be a nice dinner out and back to the flat to finish packing.
Last night was unbelievable! The Baxter Theater is on the campus of Cape Town University. It was a small but delightful theater. OK opera fans and music aficionados, imagine this..........
Mozart's The Magic Flute with dialogue, arias, etc. updated to a modern (?) African setting. Everything was performed beautifully by the Isanga Portabella Theater Group, on par with any good opera house, but in a mix of English and Xhosa. The entire score was played with an African rhythm on marimbas, African drums, plastic trash can drums, oil barrel drums, and wine bottles filled with varying degrees of water. The dance chorus performed with Xhosa rhythm and steps. The three guiding spirits (?) strangely resembled and sounded like the Supremes! The costumes were a mix of traditional Xhosa dress and black leather pants with long black leather coats. Bet you have never heard Mozart like this!! I hope he did not spin in his grave, but honestly, I think he would have enjoyed it immensely. I certainly did. Just another example of the wildly unexpected things you can find in Cape Town. If you can't catch this performance in Cape Town, you might try for the one at the Vic Theater in London! That is where they go from here.
And now I say goodbye from Cape Town. I'll catch you next on our side of the Atlantic! Give me a little time to catch my breath, take care of a few items of business, and I promise to put up lots of pictures!
Cape Town Seamstress