Good intentions

I really planned to get a whole lot of household paperwork (balancing checkbook, paying bills, filing, throwing things out, etc.) done last night.

Unfortunately, the severe thunderstorms led to a power outage, starting about 8:30. At which point I had caught up on a few things (involving paper journals and filing away programs from shows I'd seen recently), but had not made much of a dent otherwise.

So I read (by flashlight) for a while and went to bed early-ish. It only just now occurred to me that one could conceivably do a certain amount of household paperwork by candlelight.

Not the Messiah

Consider Monty Python's Life of Brian. Now, take Handel's Messiah. Smoosh them together and throw in bits of everything from doo wop to Latin jazz to Gilbert & Sullivan (with the latter being a rewrite of "The Lumberjack Song"). Add bagpipers and a few singing sheep. And, oh, yeah, don't forgot to involve the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Master Chorale. Stir gently and serve up at Wolf Trap.

The result was Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), a comic oratorio by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Eric Idle sang "baritone-ish" and John Du Prez served as guest conductor for the NSO, as well.

About all I can say is that my face muscles are sore from laughing so much and my hands hurt from applauding.

I really hope this will be recorded. And, if you have the chance to see this, do go.