Keillor's Show

We went to a performance by Garrison Keillor last night.  The stage was set with one stool and a microphone. In today's high-tech, fireworks world,  it was hard to believe that was all that was needed for a ninety minute performance. It was also hard to believe that the microphone had a long cord.  I am sure they could have provided a cordless microphone if that had been requested.  I quickly determined that his interaction with the long cord, and getting his feet tangled up in it, and constantly moving it out of his way, behind the stool, in front of the stool, behind his feet, in front of his feet--was all part of the act.

Equally as hard to believe, that one person and a stool and a microphone could hold his audience in rapt attention for ninety minutes, (which really turned out to be two hours.)  He is a one of a kind, funny guy, no doubt about it, albeit, a little weird!

One remark struck a cord with me.  He said:  "I grew up in the age of self-denigration. With Facebook and Twitter and all,  nowadays, the younger generation is into self-promotion."   I don't think I would ever have thought to articulate that,  but I can certainly identify with growing up with self-denigration.  [i.e. "don't get too big for your britches"].

When I try to figure out which is the preferable way, I can only conclude that it must be somewhere in between those two extremes.