The Odyssey on Angel Island
For her birthday, Jessie planned a big picnic on Angel Island. Laina and I were in North Beach that morning, so we took the ferry from SF and got to the island about half an hour before everybody else. We claimed a picnic bench next to a grill and laid out in the sun.
While we were waiting for our party, we noticed a group at the far end of the field doing yoga while some dude strummed the guitar. "San Francisco," we thought. Who wouldn't wake up early to do some sun salutations in the middle of the Bay? Then we noticed them singing. Like, really well. Like a choir. Later then moved to a different spot and we noticed then playing instruments. LIke a saxophone and bass.
It turns out they're part of a group called We Players, who put on arts installations and theater performances in some of the Bay Area's "local treasures" - places like Alcatraz, Fort Point, and Angel Island.
They did Hamlet on Alcatraz and Macbeth at Fort Point. Cleverly, they next set out to do The Odyssey on Angel Island. From their website:
You will walk for miles, you will encounter monsters, nymphs, gods and even mere mortals. There will be feasts, libations, storms, and five star views across the bay. You will journey to the Kingdom of the Dead, you will climb Mount Olympus, and – if you are brave, resilient and determined, you will reach your native land at last.
Now I want to go!