High Jinks in Blandings by the Bay

The San Francisco Bay area Blandings Castle Society decided to honor a member of the family that we consider one our own -- none other than Joan and Ken, the President of the North American Wodehouse Society.  The visit was a wonderful event and was celebrated with due pomp and ceremony. The royal visitors were accorded their respect with its share of browsing and sluicing followed by a visit to the Eureka Theater for a light hearted musical on the Presidential Election by Gershwin, Gershwin, Kaufman, and Ryskind.  A wonderful time was had by all.

The browsing and sluicing was of the highest quality. While there was no nonnettes de poulet Agnès Sorel, the food provided by Gaylord India Restaurant, was excellent. The service was just right, and after satisfying our physical craving, it was time to move on to the spiritual event of the evening -- the play "Of Thee I Sing".

Although the play was written in 1917, it was very topical. It dealt with the Presidential Elections, Political Conventions, the Vice-Presidency, the Supreme Court, Marriage, Beauty Pagents, Foreign Affairs, good old Mother Hood and Corn Muffins!  The story is timeless. The music was fantastic, and the singing was pure bliss.  

The location of the play was the Eureka Theater, in the heart of the financial district of San Francisco. The theatre itself is modelled on the Princess Theater of NY City where many of P.G.Wodehouse's works were performed in the 1920s. It provided an intimate setting for 200 people and it was very intimate -- I felt part of the play, the stage was that close.  

The company of the Wodehouse Society made it all the more enjoyable, although you had to protect yourself from some of the criminal elements like Ken!  In classic Lord Emsworth mode, Ken nearly pocketed my little Penguin of "Crime Wave at Blandings", a la Egyptian Scarab! Just goes to show, that the President of the Wodehouse Society, and the President of the USA (John Wintergarden) have quite a few things in common!.

Alas, it was very soon after that we had to split up and go our respective ways, but the memory of last night, the music, the food will linger on for quite a while. This has kindled my interest to interact more with members of this society and I am looking forward to October 2013 when the Society will hold its convention in the Windy City of Chicago.  Who knows, we may hobnob with Reginald, the Third Earl of Havershot and other luminaries at this historic convention!