New Experiences #67 - #69
W/C 23rd July
N.B. This week's collection is brought to you exclusively from La Loire in France, where I enjoyed a family holiday.
New Experience #67: Outdoor Circus/Theatre
Throughout the summer months, in the environs of our holiday accommodation and across France, festivals are held in cities, towns and villages celebrating music, film, theatre and family entertainment. Staggered over many weeks, the events are mostly free and take place on temporary stages dans la rue or in town squares.
A smart and loveable mix of live music, circus and theatre performed to a captive audience of all ages, 'le spectacle' I attended transformed the car park of a very grand suburban lycee (sixth form college) into a seated venue for a few thousand. With the hazy sunset providing the perfect backdrop, the small cast used a clever and versatile set, prolonged character creation and twists on circus favourites, including acrobatics, juggling, clowning and audience participation. All combined to humorous and memorable effect and, as most of the performance was in mime, any potential language barrier was knocked down.
Rating: 5/5 With very few tourists in sight, this was a well organised, fully inclusive and quality community event. Perfect for a relaxed summer's evening.
New Experience #68: A French Gig
As a music lover and French-learner, I wanted to find a French gig to attend whilst on holiday and thanks to the aforementioned array of summer festivals, did so with ease. Once again a free, open air affair, the concert took place in Mayenne's main square as part of the town's L’t des 6 Jeudis festival. (This was the first of six gigs to occur every Thursday night for six weeks). The male duo I saw, Andr Minvielle and Lionel Suarez, could not have been more French - tackling political and social issues with cheerful melodies and an accordion. They went down very well with the large crowd and finished with two encores.
Rating: 3/5 The thick accent of the vocalist meant I found it difficult to pick up most of what he was singing/saying and this did impede my enjoyment somewhat. Once again though, we were treated to a very friendly atmosphere and a gorgeous sunset.
New Experience #69: A Glow Worm
Ever since reading James & The Giant Peach as a Dahl-loving junior, a book in which the creature features as a charming character, I have been inwardly fascinated by glow worms. The natural world is of course full of wonderful beings and this particular species is not only incredible in its evolutionary formation but relatively rare and well cool too. My secret and unspoken desire to observe one in its natural habitat, which in this case proved to be in a lay-by in rural France, came to fortunate fruition whilst on an evening stroll with my dad. The worm was alone and glowed with a fluorescent, lime green pigment and if I hadn’t moved to the side of the road to avoid a passing car, I would have missed it altogether.
The glow worm doth glow to attract others for mating, to attract prey such as moths or to warn off predators such as toads. Whatever the reason for this one’s illumination, my poor camera skills couldn’t capture it, so I left with no documented proof of my exciting find.
Rating: 4/5 It really did brighten up my day.
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IMAGE: New by chrisinplymouth
