An events-packed Saturday on the Old Northside of Indy

A week ago Saturday (June 11), I spent the day in the Old Northside neighborhood of Indianapolis, photographing a series of events occurring simultaneously.

I started at the President Benjamin Harrison House, where they were holding the annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament. Participants were dressed in all-whites, and competition was held throughout the day. A jazz-pops combo, which included noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt on keyboards (pictured in top of post), performed on the House's porch, providing music throughout the day. The tournament had an Alice in Wonderland theme, and several volunteers spent the day dressed up in what had to be uncomfortable costumes on a very warm, humid day, portraying characters from the timeless animated motion picture classic.

Next I stopped at the Propylaeum two blocks north on Delaware Street, where they were sponsoring a two-day Beer Garden in the Yard -- dinners of salmon, chicken or sausages along with beverages, a live acoustic duo and some fashion and craft jewelry for sale.

A block up the street from there, the annual Independent Music & Art Festival unfolded from noon to 8 p.m. I finally made it there about mid-afternoon and caught a few numbers by Indianapolis hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators.

My last stop was yet another block north, where the popular annual Talbot Street Art Fair was taking place. All in all, a lot of activity in a very compact area in Indianapolis.

Above and next two below: The annual Wicket World of Croquet Tournament unfolded on the grounds of the President Benjamin Harrison House.  

Above: As the players competed, a jazz combo provided musical ambiance from the front porch of the Harrison House. One of the performers was noted Indiana jazz photographer Duncan Schiedt, who played keyboards ... and whose image is reflected in the tuba.

 

Above: Schiedt was born on the East Coast in 1921 and lived there until moving to Indiana in 1951. More than a photographer and musician, he so loved Indiana jazz that he authored a book about its history, "The Jazz State of Indiana." The Indianapolis Museum of Art had a gallery of his jazz photography on exhibit for several months in 2001.
 

Above:  This year's Wicket World of Croquet had an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. These volunteers dressed up in the classic tale's characters (from left) the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, Alice and the Queen of Diamonds.

Above: Two other volunteers, also in character, played the roles of President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison.

 

Above: I enjoy photographing someone else taking pictures of others. In this instance, I was intrigued by how the women seemed to be enjoying themselves ... but the guy?

 

Above: An apparent false alarm in the apartment complex north of the Harrison House brought out a full complement of firetrucks.

 

Above and below: At the Propylaeum, these salmon fillets and sausages were part of the grill offerings Saturday for those who chose to have lunch on the grounds during the Propylaeum's Beer Garden in the Yard.

Above: In addition to grilled food, the Propylaeum's menu included a choice of brew and these wines. 

Above and below: The Propylaeum's grounds also featured a bazaar, where fashions and crafted jewelry were for sale.

 

Above: Providing music for Beer Garden in the Yard were this duo. I was impressed after they played the one and only countrified arrangement of Michael Jackson's monster hit "Billie Jean" that I've ever heard.

 

Above and below: Just a block north of the Propylaeum on Delaware Street, Indy hip-hop performer TJ Reynolds and his collaborators (that's Joseph Lehner on drums below) performed as part of the annual Independent Art & Music Festival. The IAMF had a daylong bill of local talent, performing from noon to 8 p.m.

 

Above: And just north of the IAMF was the popular Talbot Street Art Fair, where these people were walking past vendors set up along East 16th Street.

 

Above: These colorful storefront decorations were along 16th Street, east of Delaware Street.

Macbeth, in a colonial setting

Today and tomorrow are the last performances of "Macbeth: A Colonial Tragedy," the latest presentation of the three-year-old Garfield Shakespeare Company. The shows will be at 8 p.m. in the MacAllister Center of Performing Arts amphitheater in Garfield Park, Indianapolis.

These images were taken at the show's opening night, Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. Director Thomas Cardwell's production is set in pre-revolutionary war America, hence the "colonial" reference in the title.

The picture at the top is in the second half of the production, a dramatic scene when Macbeth, played by Eric MacDonald, has a disturbing vision in which he sees a procession of kings from the lineage of his onetime friend Banquo, as prophesied by the three witches.

Best thing about the shows: They're free!

The three witches -- or "weird sisters," as Macbeth refers to them in the play -- during a dance while concocting a brew. Their prophesies are key elements in the play: That Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor, putting him first in line to succeed King Duncan; that Banquo, Thane of Lochaber, would never sit in the throne, although Banquo's lineage would assume the throne, a prediction that would disturb Macbeth and, along with Lady Macbeth's goading, motivate him to kill Banquo, his onetime friend; that Macbeth would never be harmed by anyone "born of woman"; and that Macbeth should beware of Macduff, Thane of Fife, whose family and servants are put to death at Macbeth's direction. Macduff eventually kills Macbeth after divulging to Macbeth a shocking technicality that enables Macduff to circumvent the witches' pronouncement: Macduff says he was not naturally "born of woman" (through the birth canal), but was "ripped" from his mother's womb (Cesarean section).

King Duncan, played by Stephen Scull, talking to Lady Macbeth. Later in the drama, Duncan is slain by Macbeth.


Lady Macbeth, played by Meagan Matlock, trying to persuade her husband to kill the king so he can take over the throne.

Macbeth, in blood-stained shirt, during a tortuous reflection in the aftermath of his late-night slaying of King Duncan in the king's chambers.

Macbeth and Banquo, played by Charles DiGiovanna, converse in a scene after Macbeth had killed King Duncan. Not longer after, Banquo would be slain at Macbeth's direction, although Banquo's son Fleance -- also an assassination target -- would escape, allowing the fulfillment of the witches' prophecy that a long line of Banquo's lineage would ascend the throne.


Macbeth's onetime friend Banquo (left), returning as a ghost -- seen only by his slayer Macbeth -- at a banquet, a scene befuddling everyone else at the table who cannot understand why Macbeth is raging at an empty chair.


Lady Macduff, played by Melissa Mowat, shortly before she and her child are killed at the direction of Macbeth, who is trying to heed the witches' prediction to beware of the exiled Macduff.

Macduff, played by Nick Henry, announcing the beheading of Macbeth.