Popination Variation
a series of unhinged personal essays disguised as pub reviews. Today: William Oliver’s Publick House.
Also, back at the Theatre Company of Lafayette.
I found my way all the way up in Lafayette again for some more theatrical shenaniganry, and so I ended up at William Oliver’s Publick House to sample their long whiskey list and bacon-centered menu. I had wanted to come here last time I was working with the Theatre Company of Lafayette, but it had been closed for renovation or a private party or some such unexpected and irregular reason. And so this was my first choice now that I was back up North but not so North as Boulder.
I’ve described the fight direction process a few times here on Zuko’s Musings and elsewhere, most recently on the Denverse podcast, Locals Aloud. I had read the script for this current project, received a list of scuffly bits the director wanted me to set, and this visit to the theatre was for the initial rehearsal where I show the actors what I’ve come up with and see how it evolves when put on their bodies. Like my recent work up the mountain in Conifer at StageDoor, these ‘fights’ are more like comedic business, or what I call shenanigans, than real violence, and as such were really fun to set up. And there was need for a reverse striptease too, so with my burlesque experience I also set that movement sequence up for them.
You can read a bit more about my history with the TCL in my Popination to Odd13 Brewery, which I did pop into this visit as well, just after I was done with the rehearsal, as their beer is really good. But it’s nice, to feel accepted in a place where I haven’t been in a while but that I have a long history with. Small companies like this (I’m including the theatre company in this as well) are what makes this state so very cool, and I love taking a moment out of my hectic world to take in a tree-lined view and sip on a life-changing stout.
But the theatre (and Odd13) is not the pub!
It was interesting to see on my longish uber ride, how the roads went from highway to remote rural to cozy tree-lined residential with sharp corners. And when I was dropped off in front of the Publick House, my first impression was that of an artsy hipster vibe, but not in a dire way. Though there was something called a Community Art Center in the same building – I don’t know what that was, a makerspace or studio or gallery? and I couldn’t find out because it was closed at the time. (And no research for Popinations, remember?)
Inside, the pub was smallish and had winding pathways between the generous wooden bar and the partitions that separated the high tops and the low restaurant seating, and it made for a comfy atmosphere. Sitting down and resting my elbows on the blonde wood bar, I gazed along the impressive array of bottles behind it (especially whiskeys), but then I noticed something very unusual. Could even be unique.
Tully on tap?
I had to try it – Tullamore Dew is one of my favorite whiskeys, and it was on tap here. I’ve heard of some (especially English) pubs that have a pre-mixed cocktail or two on tap, but I’ve never heard of just having a good whiskey there to pull. I asked about it, and the talkative and friendly ’tender described the riots that happened when they tried to discontinue it and replace it with a pre-mixed old fashioned. Very interesting. It was … well it was a decent dram of Tully, if a bit colder than usual when neat.
This was yet another friendly and pleasing pub that would definitely be a third place if it weren’t so far away. I’ll go back when I look at the progress of the TCL fights, and maybe I’ll take my husband and try their Pint o’ Bacon this time too. It’s good to know it’s there, and good – it’s nice to have a homey place to go that’s very close to the Lafayette theatre that isn’t Odd13, as much as I like that brewery as well. Having a few attractions there makes the long trips to Lafayette that much more worthwhile. Not that my work isn’t worthwhile, but. You get what I mean.
