PORTLAND SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

The Portland summer is why people move to Oregon.

It’s also why people move away.

Why?

Because it doesn’t last long enough.

That wasn’t the case yesterday at Portland Center Stage.

A Midsummer Nights Dream played on the main stage.

We had seats fifth row center.

It was a birthday play date.

Not my birthday, but it was a party.

The highlight?

From most news sources no one should dare journey into the Portland Oregon city limits unless you want to learn how to cook meth, shoot smack, or get touched up on the fent.

Gathering up enough courage to make the run is a test in itself.

To make it even more challenging we had a double date and I was driving.

Me driving downtown Portland? I’ve had people in the car call their significant others for help.

Since I’ve been a professional driver cruising the Portland metro area, I know it like the back of my hand.

No, the other hand.

One of my passengers gave me directions and finished with, “Now you know where you are.”

To which I said, “I’ve known where I am the whole time, I just wanted you to keep giving directions for the fun of it.”

We drove from West Slope to the top of Burnside by the towers and coasted down like I’d done on my bike before there were traffic signals, wife, or kids.

Way back. It was a terrifying ride where I looked for places to crash at high speed.

Not so much this time.

The scary part was Portland, not a hill.

Portland Summer Drive Style

The important thing to know about Portland? It’s a city.

Yes, it’s an Oregon city where everyone loves the outdoors and the mountain and the beach all so conveniently located for easy access.

But it’s a city. Not a backyard, a small town, or a familiar place. It’s a city where people do city things.

What are city things? Rudeness, inconsiderateness, selfishness.

Things that are not celebrated in the beautiful state of Oregon, but fit in Portland.

Try and deny the city that Portland is and you should stay home.

But if you get over the city fear, take a drive.

Like any obnoxious city driver I stopped in the middle of the street to let my group out before I parked the car.

Unlike the usual jerks in traffic, I stopped at just the right time between lights. No one waited behind me. Everyone got out.

That’s no small deal with a group bigger than yourself.

I was on NW 11th, made a right next to Powell’s, then another right on 12th and into the underground parking.

It was the same place I’ve always parked and one time, just one time, I took the wrong turn inside and lost my car and had to walk around for an hour looking for it.

One time I lost the car and it never gets mentioned? Oh, you’re probably not married.

Losing a car is great marriage fodder.

I couldn’t lose it this time because I had witnessers other than my wife.

So I kept track of where I’d parked it better this time to avoid the moron tag.

After the play I took off, got the car, and found everyone out in front of the theater.

And that my friends is Portland Summer Drive Style Dream by David Gillaspie.

What About Shakespeare?

If live theater calls you? Answer.

You’ll always have something to talk about after a play.

“What was that about?”

“Did you like it?”

“Was that real Shakespeare?”

No matter how you respond to a play, if you stay awake during a matinee you’re doing it right.

A couple in front of us had knocked out with their heads tipping toward one another.

My wife woke me up for such a cute vision.

The lady next to me was huffing and coughing like an allergic horse.

I wore a mask and thought of adding an extra like I do on planes.

The matinee is a special time slot for the early dinner crowd, but it sneaks in there before lunch which explains the sack of food the lady next to me crunched on between coughs and hacks.

“They seemed like they were having a great time on stage.”

“I liked the stage setting and decorations.”

“It was no Romeo and Juliet.”

That Shakespeare is still playing in 2023 shows a longevity of legendary length.

Do I recommend A Midsummer Night’s Dream?

Absolutely. And here’s why:

In spite of the visuals and high jinx on stage, close your eyes and listen to the words.

It’s a language spoken long ago, yet oddly familiar with your eyes closed.

“Are you asleep?”

“No. Time to go?”

“It’s intermission.”

“I know that.”

“You look well rested.”

“Thank you William Shakespeare.”