ushering Reston Community Players' production of The Rocky Horror Show

 I rushed home to shower after the hike, to get ready for ushering Reston Community Players' production of The Rocky Horror Show. It was a pity that i missed Friday night’s Halloween customs contest, yet the play was pretty engaging and entertaining. 

The Rocky Horror Show is a horror, sci-fi spoof that also uses the tropes of 1950s and ’60s musicals to tell the tale of a couple, Brad and Janet, who stumble onto an old castle with a crazy party going on presided over by the diva-tastic “sweet transvestite from Transexual Transylvania,’ Dr. Frank N. Furter, and his retinue of strange and unusual servants, guests, and victims. 

Even before curtain time, sexily clad ensemble members roam the house, teasing and taunting open-minded audience members to jump-start the experience. Is that a drag queen with a two-foot-tall hairdo? Check! Savvy fans of local drag performer Anja Dick (or his alter ego, Ryan Kincade) will be pleasantly surprised. 

Before curtain time, sexily clad ensemble members roamed the house, teasing and taunting open-minded audience members to jump-start the experience. There was a drag queen with a two-foot-tall hairdo, and even ushers wore lab coats.

The production highly encouraged audience participation, especially the call-outs. The theater sold goodie bags with a few approved props to use and throw, but no toast, frankfurters, rice, confetti, or water guns. We ushers did work hard to pick up the props after the play. Lucky me to catch the last show on 11/1.

13-m hike in SNP after 2-month trip in South America

 I returned from my 2-month South American trip Friday morning, and then joined a group of friends to hike on Saturday for 13 miles with 2850 feet elevation gain in the Shenandoah National Park. The park still opens during the federal government shutdown but not financial transactions such as booking camp grounds, etc. 

The weather started at mid 40f andthen warmed up to 65f. A perfect sunny dry dsy for hiking, and a lotcof oroplr drove to the Park to seize the tail ofcthe foliage.  

We started from Big Meadow Lodge and got on the AT to the Lower Hawksbill Trail up to Hawkbill, where we enjoyed the view from the highest point in the park.  Then we went down the Upper Hawksbill trail to the Skyland and Big Meadows Horse trail until the Rose River Loop Trail. We cut short the hike because two hikers twisted their angles over slippery leaves-covered trails. 

One hiker got a piece of blackberry pie, while the rest refrained ourselves from high sugar consumption and just took some cold drinks after the hike. As to me, I even skipped the cold drinks since the air temperature turned cold again. Nice to be back and hiking in my neighborhood!