but... what about Ben?

This day has held a series of misadventures all around me.

Take this morning at the Savannah VA. I had an 11:45 AM appointment for blood labs, as I see my PCP next Friday. I was there at 11:38, so good for me! However, there I sat... and sat... and sat.

I tried to be patient, I did. I even entertained myself with the song from my mental jukebox that had cued up upon my waking: "Video Killed The Radio Star". Very cool tune for doing knee flexions and knee extensions, especially in the tall chair I had chosen.

 

But enough was enough.

At 12:20 PM, I snagged one of the staff as she called yet another newcomer into the lab. I asked her what was going on, as I'd been waiting for more than thirty minutes. 

She looked surprised at that, but took my name and said she'd find out what the problem was.

Then I sat... sat... sat, another 15 minutes, until another staff member ushered me inside.

She was one of Ms. Barker's assistants and she'd recognized my name at once when the other woman has asked.

So she had come to my rescue.

Someone else on the staff had marked that they had me in their booth...but they did not... and the other staff had just accepted that I had been called in earlier and was still there, getting blood drawn.

She had to print out my name labels again, as the others were past time, and that took a few minutes.

Thankfully, only blood was needed this time, not urine, so she had me out of there by noon58.

My late morning appointment had taken almost 75 minutes.

As I walked toward the bathroom and stepped past the reception desk in the main lobby, I saw this colorful sign: "Game Time! The 4th and 5th Wednesdays of each month, at 1300"!

I mean to remember that for next week and the week after!

Chances are I would have missed that sign if my blood draw had been on time.

 

What was next on my agenda?

Brunch at Texas Roadhouse, that's what!

Melaness had given me a gift card there, and, as I'd told the nurse, "they will feed me now!"

The problem was, they did not.

The usual first course of dinner rolls never came.

The hostess did not bring a basket of them with her when she seated me, nor did Marquis ever ask me about them.

Not that he was a bad waiter.

He probably assumed that I'd deferred on the rolls, as he saw me eating the bagged roasted peanuts on the table.

My Tater Skins came out quickly, and he checked on me several times to make sure all was well.

And the food was great!

I held the Skins like pizza as I ate them... yum!

Half the order went home with me... as well as a bag of four dinner rolls.

As I departed, I stopped by the front desk and asked for the rolls, as I'd not been given them.

The hostess and scheduler were flustered, but I got the rolls!

Then I was off to AMC for the 2:15 PM screening of "The Room Next Door".

The synopsis said Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton were two old friends who hadn't seen each other in many years, until circumstances brought them back together.

What it did not say was that Tilda had terminal cancer and wanted to find someone to be close by when she took the euthanasia pill.

Julianne had been quite a few choices down on her list, but the others had been aghast and refused to be present for the suicide.

Julianne had been aghast, too, at first, but had relented.

But it wasn't until after the fact that the situation got to me.

The police were determined to arrest Julianne for aiding and abetting the suicide, which was illegal in that state.

Suicide was considered to be a crime???

What the fresh hell???

I needed a hug.

As it was almost 5 PM, I knew just where to go: Jalapenos in Sandfly.

The Smiths and Kamerons would be gathering there, with hugs a-plenty.

Plus, I could deliver the Christmas cards for my brothers that Aunt Linda sent to me.

Smitty and Mary were there, surprised to see me, as I'd said last week that I would not be able to join them this time around.

So I explained about the movie and got hugs.

Then Betsy and the Kameron brothers came and I got more hugs.

Tony and Laura didn't come tonight.

That's probably for the best, as we talked about suicides in our lives.

I seem to know many more than they do: Jean Marie; David Kopek in 2013, then his brother, Brian, a few years later; and now Kal, who killed Barbara, too.

What an odd night.

 

True to my word to Smitty and Mary, I didn't stay long, as I had a dance performance to attend.

As I had written on my fb page earlier this week, "Movement In Motion: Where Art Meets Emotion" sounded like exactly the kind of show I would love!

Plus, the show was free!

However, it never happened, as it was postponed for some undefined future time, according to the student there at the door at the Savannah Arts Academy.

She couldn't tell me or the others waiting why, just that it had been announced that morning at school.

Well, hell's belles.

I could have gone to the Jepson for their screening of "Steamboy", had I known.

Drats.

So I returned home, finding absolutely naught of interest.

Peacock to my rescue for the third time this week!

They had Hallmark's "Ruby Herring Mysteries" mini-series and they'd proved enjoyable.

The premise was this: the widow of a Seattle cop, Ruby (Taylor Cole) hosts a "news you can use" segment on a local TV station, and helps Jake (Stephen Huszar) solve homicides.

Not that he wants her to, but he's a transplanted NY cop and she knows folks.

In the first movie, "Silent Witness", a friend of Ruby's mom gets killed before a cooking convention and that's how Ruby gets involved in the case.

In the second movie, "Her Last Breath", a famous health guru dies in an auto accident, but it's found to be homicide by the coroner.

In both movies, we see Ruby visiting the grave of her late husband, Ben, and having talks as if he were there.

Very nice!

Then, something skips a note and throws off the melody of these movies.

For "Prediction Murder", which concerns a five-year-old cold case of a fortune teller that was killed in her shop, no mention is made at all - not once - about Ruby being a widow.

Not once, not even by her mom.

Instead, there's this supposed "left at the altar" story of her, with the high-school sweetie, and now famous cardiac doctor, back in town for their class reunion.

Say what???

I can understand now why that 2019 series only had three movies.

I'm sure I wasn't the only viewer who wanted to know: What about Ben???

Such an odd day this has been.

shake it like mary magdalene!

"What's that you say?"

Just a line from one of the songs tonight in "Sister Act"! Ain't it divine?!!

"Hahahaha! I saw that pun you snuck in there!"

I figured you would! You know how keen I am about listening to the lyrics, right? Good thing! These songs were just full of puns and double entrendres!

"Very nice! But I don't recall the movie using made-up songs."

G'friend, this wasn't no movie! It was a live musical!!! At Savannah Arts Academy!!! An absolute gift it was, too, at this time of year. I guess that's a silver lining of Hurricane Milton, as that storm was the reason it got canceled in the fall.

"So, here it was in the winter, during a cold spell, to brighten your new year!"

That's true! And guess what else? I wasn't solo! I'd posted the flyer about the show on fb, tagging two of the Asbury theatre-goers, and one of them joined me! Robin and I had a nice chat last night on the phone, then I went ahead and bought my ticket for tonight.

"Good move! That made sure you didn't back out on her because of the weather."

Ah, you know me well. And guess what? They had Varnedoe Theatre nice and toasty! I was so pleasantly warm that I took off the sweatshirt I had on over my sweater and undershirt. Just delightful to be warm, walking around enjoying the orchestra while I waited for her to get there from Pooler!!!

"That's wonderful! Now, tell me: did Robin enjoy the musical?"

She did!!! We were both laughing and clapping and having a wonderful time throughout the show!!! Get this: her son was in theater at his high school in California, so she went to all of the shows he was in. She's missed it, as he's 31 now, so she's very pleased that i like going to the various high school plays and musicals. Wonderful!!!

"How truly wonderful that is! I know you've had a struggle trying to get other Asbury folk involved with these shows. Maybe she'll be able to light a fire under them!"

Perhaps so! Oh, and tonight was closing night for the play, so they gave roses to all of the seniors in the show! My favorite, Jada Banks, was the one who played 'Doloris', so this is her last year at SAA. I'm sure going to miss her. I'm going to miss several of those kids, like Emory Liang, who played 'Sweaty Eddie the cop'. I even clapped when his character fired his gun and shot 'Curtis' (Josiah Williams), who was about to kill 'Doloris'.  Such a flashback for me of the cop firing his gun to save Bruce Willis' character in "Die Hard"! Anyway, all told, I think there were at least ten graduating seniors in this one.

"Plus, this was Richard Lundin's last play to direct. You met his replacement, Betsy, tonight. She sat right in front of you and Robin, with her daughter who goes to Garrison."

That's right!!! The little girl played 'Spud' in "The Adventures of Captain Potato"!!! She really was pleased that I had liked the short play so much!!!

"Of course she was! And her mama was, too. That probably was good for Robin, too. She's trying to get involved with helping behind the scenes and had talked to Betsy about that. Me being such a fan of children's theater undoubtedly spoke well of Robin, too."

Very cool! I'm so glad she came out tonight in this low-40's weather... glad I did, too!

bday87 party for Mama!

First of all, there was singing!

 

But not "Happy Birthday" on this occasion, oh, no!

 

The Cantabile and the Chorale of the Savannah Arts Academy Chorus performed for us at the Trinity United Methodist Church.

 

This was their "Voices Of The Season" concert and it was totally free!

We were greeted with "Carol Of The Bells", always a favorite during the holidays.

(smile!)

Before we left there, everyone joined in to make a wish for Mama.

Every person received a candle, with each taper being lit by one of the young singers.

 

Then, we all sang "Silent Night", a song I know Mama knew by heart, as many years as she was part of a choir!

 

At the song's end, each person closed their eyes and blew out the flame as they made their wish.

 

How wonderful that was!

 

(smile!)

 

And you know what came next, right?

 

Cake!

 

Not just any cake, either, but a great and glorious Christmas cake like Frank always made, chock full of fruit and pecans!

 

That was a gift to me from Mark Kameron last Friday, right in time to share with Mama.

 

Delicious!

 

(smile!)

What's that you say?

 

Where's the ice cream?

 

Here it is, half-price courtesy of Publix, to celebrate my half-birthday.

 

I chose the Mint Chocolate Chip, knowing that Mama always liked that one, too, at this holiday - and her birthday! - time of year.

 

So creamy and cool, it is, leaving your mouth with a tingle to brighten a cold day!

 

Today was lovely and warm, in the low 70's: perfect.

 

(smile!)

All very nice!

 

Now, it was time for gifts!

 

Publix again came to my rescue, gifting me with this Salsa Bouquet to mark my 4th anniversary in their loyalty club.

 

Don't the flowers frame Mama so well?

 

And now I'm, settled in to watch "The Polar Express" with her, with Comcast gifting me this movie yesterday as a reward.

 

Perfect!

i thank You, God, for this day, and for giving me this woman as my mother!

need to laugh on a cold day!

That's why I took myself to see "The Curious Savage" again this afternoon!

This is the scene near the end when everyone is in the parlor except two people.

The first missing is Mrs. Paddy, suspected of turning off the light and making off with the bearer bonds that had been hidden in the teddy bear.

[I know that's got to be an inside joke for the playwright!]

The second one missing is Miss Wilhelmina, who has gone in search of the artist.

The doc is on the phone trying to find out if any of the security or other staff have spotted the artist anywhere in the building or on the grounds.

"Nope", had been the general consensus, incensing the Senator.

Truly delightful!

I'm so glad I decided to see it again!

And what a nice delight to come out of the matinee and find daylight still!

 

It had been a long, cold morning, dipping into the 40's yet again.

Fortunately, my house had stayed in the low to mid-60's...

which is still a bit brrrr to me.

But the day was bright and sunny, so that's why I threw myself out at 2 PM.

Good for me!

Jelks Auditorium at SavArtsAcad was a bit cool, but no cooler than my house...

and it was much more entertaining!!!

I even went to Aldi's on the way home, hoping my depleted SNAP card was loaded...

and it was!

Hooray!

Spanish rice with black beans and Rotel for dinner!

Now, to cue up "Out Of Time" as my evening entertainment.

I love this Denzel Washington thriller, so I'd recorded it last weekend.

He's a not-yet divorced police chief having an affair with his girlfriend from their high school days, and finds himself forced to try to keep one step ahead of being found out while his not-yet ex works her arson homicide case.

Woooeee!

(smile!)

savages!

"Oh, no! Has the rat chewed up something?"

 

LOL!, No, not little vermin. I haven't seen any sign of the space invader for a couple of days now. And that's very good!

 

"Then, what are you talking about??"

 

The play I saw at the Savannah Arts Academy tonight! Their 16-member repertory troupe chose "The Curious Savage", a play from the 1950's, and it was magnificent!!! Jada Banks directed it and she was even there for the intro tonight! I'm glad I was there, as she will be in her role in "Ragtime" for every other performance.

 

"How wonderful to see her again! What was the play about?"

 

It was a comedy, set in the decade of my birth, and they used clothing of that period. Moreover, they changed clothes from one day to the next, to mark the passage of time. Very nice idea, that, as it allowed the cast plenty of outfits to play in. This first scene is in Act 1, and has the inhabitants of The Cloisters in the social room.

 

"The Cloisters? Like, Jekyll Island?"

 

Same name as that resort, but, like I said, these were inhabitants, not tourists. From left to right are Miss Wilhelmina, in blue; she's the nurse. Then there's Florence (with her baby doll), Hanni, Fairy May (standing on a chair by the bookcase), Jeffrey, and Mrs. Paddy in the rightmost pink chair. They have all gathered there because a new inhabitant is due to arrive and they are waiting to meet her.

"Very nice! But weren't Paddy and Hanni men in the original play?"

Yes, they were, but Calliope Cooper and Brooklyn Barton were excellent in the roles of the list-spouting artist and the tone-deaf violinist.

"Hey, I was just asking, in case anyone was confused. Carry on, dear."

Thanks. So, as I said, the inhabitants were awaiting a new arrival. They were hustled into the hall as the Savages arrived, though. Here they are, the four of them: stepson Samuel, stepdaughter Talia, and stepdaughter Lily Belle, with the widow Ethel sitting in the pink chair with her teddy bear. (smile!) Then there's Doc Emmett and nurse Wilhelmina rounding out the picture. Quite confrontational, isn't it?

"For sure! I take it that Ethel didn't want to be there?"

Correct! The three stepkids - a failed judge, a pushy Senator, and an oft-wed pseudo princess - want the ten million dollars left by their father. However, it's tied up in a memorial fund set up by widow Ethel, who believes it would be better used to grant "the desires of people desperate to be foolish", as deemed worthy by the fund managers (a mailman, a veterinarian, a gardener, and the widow).

"What an interesting idea: granting wishes of ordinary people! Sounds a lot like something Fliss of Kickstarter once did and that Fliss of Nerdfighters of Kiva still does."

Oh, yes, nice catch! I hadn't drawn that parallel until you said it!

"You're welcome. Now, how did the story turn out?"

Oh, please, I don't want to spoil the fun! But, if you've seen "Trading Places" or "Brewster's Millions", then you know how crazy the thought of free money can make folks! And I'm not speaking of the asylum inhabitants, either! Very funny story!!! Kudos to the entire cast!!! Kudos to the stage and costume crew!!! Kudos to the lighting and sound crew!!! Who knows, I just may go see it again tomorrow night or Saturday afternoon!!!

"Seriously???"

You betcha! And it was only $5 for me, as a senior or as a veteran. (smile!) it's still a steal at only ten dollars. That's the best price in town for live theatre!!!

shades of lula del ray in the desert

Not that there was anything in this play about SETI, as there had been in "Lula del Ray".

Nor was there any Western music, as there had been in that SMF event in 2018.

Nope.

Tonight's one-act play had already been a winner for the Savannah Arts Academy students, allowing them to bring home the trophy from the state competition.

Next week, they'll take "Bodas De Sangre" to the national competition.

I was there for the first of three nights for them to perform "Blood Wedding" in front of family and friends and us local supporters!

What an intense play it was, too!

A mother who had lost her husband and first son to knife fights feared that she would lose her second son that way, too.

He was to wed a young woman who had been dating a man who was their enemy.

To further complicate matters, that man was married to the cousin of the young woman, and he had a child and another coming with that wife.

But here's the real issue: that man and the young woman were still carrying on at night, a fact borne out by the hard-ridden horse each morning.

Wow.

Very intense... and performed in less than an hour.

Actually, the entire process from setting up the opening scene to the last stroke of the broom as the stage was cleared for the next troupe, including the performance itself, was completed in less than 45 minutes.

Those were the rules of the competition.

Wow.

Unlike their comical entry last year, this one was deadly serious.

That one had a giant in its midst; this boasted the use of shadow images of the horse being raced across a dark desert.

Wow.

Kudos to their director, David Poole, and to this fine cast!

And thanks to Tomasz and his lovely wife for sitting with me!

wherefore art thou...

"Am I dreaming? Did Savannah have some Shakespeare going on??"

Indeed it did, and almost like a dream it was.

"I don't recognize this venue at all."

It's the East Courtyard Playhouse at SavArtsAcademy. This may have been their first time using it. It's definitely a more intimate setting, as it's a small, enclosed garden.

"No need to build an elaborate balcony, either, for the fair maiden to be atop of when her lover boy came calling."

That's right. So you've guessed that the play was "Romeo And Juliet", I see.

"You fairly well said as much with the post title."

So I did! And I'd had to rush right over before my brothers and others were quite done. You know, at the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta! So good to be with them again! It had been several weeks since I was last at Jalapenos of Sandfly with family. Good to get all those hugs!

"Yes, dear. But how was the play? Did it scratch that itch for the Bard of Avon?"

Yes, most def! I honestly think the setting contributed greatly. It just had - I don't know, the feel I would have expected from five hundred years ago - and that outside staircase got a lot of action from Juliet, her mom, her dad, and her nurse. Oh, speaking of the nurse, she was also in "Sweeney Todd", as part of the ensemble, and I sat next to her mom at that one. Her name is Jada Banks and it was wonderful to see her in a meaty role!

"That's for sure, she really is talented. Now, what about the play?"

The play's the thing, isn't it? LOL! Seems like that's a line in another of Shakespeare's works.

(Tapping foot and getting agitated now...)

Oh, alright, I know I've been a little derailed! The play was wonderful, as such things are with a high school cast, with their energy bubbling over all around! They were a talented bunch, too, even with the microphones trying to cut out on them and the helicopters and air traffic from Hunter AAF providing sound disruptions. However, there was one who was phenomenal, and that was the one playing the 14-year-old, love-struck, Juliet. No, not the actress originally in the role; she had an accident during tech rehearsal and could no longer manage the trips on the stairs.

"Oh, no!!! What a tragedy for that romantic tragedy!"

True. But not so for this troupe. The stage manager, Liv Dugas, stepped up - just a little pun for you! (smile!) Seriously, though, she took on the role, though she held a script at all times as Juliet speaks so often in the play, as you know. But here's the thing: even though Liv was often reading her lines, she did so with all the needed emotion, in exactly the right way, every time and all through the night. Just incredibly talented!!!

"Wow! That sounds fabulous!"

It was, it truly was. It was so beautifully timed, too. All the happier moments in the first two scenes were during daylight. By the time scene three was done, with Romeo banished and Juliet lovesick, the courtyard was darkened. I took this second photo at the end of Act 1, with the upper area of the space only lit by stage lights. What a great effect!

"That was excellent timing! That meant all the sadness in Act 2 had the darkness above lending credence to that gloom and doom."

Definitely. Oh, and there was music! No singing, mind you, as this was not a musical. But during the ball, we were treated to "Stupid Cupid" and "Rock Around The Clock". Then "Earth Angel" played while Romeo was wooing Juliet. Very cool! And the song that played as the cast took its bows? Taylor Swift's "Love Story", naturally. I was so glad I was able to be there! Most fortuitous!!!

yard work and free concert!

My thanks to the Universe for the warm weather this week and last.

I don't know how well I might have managed if I had cold to deal with, too.

My deep thanks to Elizabeth Carley.

I saw her today and she told me I must get my stress level under control.

She even gave me the name of the social worker there at the VA center, to help me with the whole nightmare of house insurance, to help me keep my house.

Why was she so concerned?

Because I was in tears telling her about having to miss my cardiologist appointment, just as I had in September, just because my PCP didn't sign the referral in time.

So, after I left her office, I took care of me.

I gassed up my Saturn, bought cheese at Aldi's, and loaded up on sale items at Publix.

I watched an episode of "Monk" and relaxed as I ate a cheese wrap.

Then I got out the Ryobi and attacked the yards.

Yes, that's "yards", plural.

I'm going to take care of mowing the weeds - yes, "weeds", because that curly, lightweight, green stuff growing is certainly not grass - but I'm going to do it piecemeal.

According to Jason Bristol of the City of Savannah, I have until March 21 to get the front yard trimmed up.

That's one full month from the date he left the notice on my front door.

That means the rude, redneck, jerk down the street with his own lawncare business will just have to suffer through my yard getting cut in stages.

These photos are just of the right side of the front.

I did clear a swath across the other side of the front yard, to acknowledge it, too.

The point is that a comparison of the two photos clearly shows progress has been made, although the green stuff down by the street still is taller than the 10 inches allowed.

Whatever.

That's where I stopped on the front, then went around to work a little longer on the back.

I had my timer set for a total of 35 minutes, as that's how long my walk on the treadmill is at the Purple Planet, which this exercise took the place of.

I certainly felt in better spirits after leaving my front yard looking like much more of a hot mess than it had.

(smile!)

Then I got cleaned up and went to Savannah Arts Academy.

They had their Midwinter Choral Showcase for me, and it was free!

This was no ordinary concert; it was more of a practice for competitions.

This shows one of the "Sight Singing" lessons the group performed, in which they are given the music for a piece they don't know and they have to learn it in 90 seconds.

I very much liked those four "classes"!

However, this is what I liked most of all, and it wasn't even listed in the program!

That's because the all-boys choir had made a special request of their teacher.

They had memorized this sea chantey about a fellow named Johnny, and even choreographed their performance of it with small groups in linked arms... and it was fabulous!!!

That was exactly what I needed to confirm I was meant to be there.

Right place, right time... 

i thank You, God.

And what was my odometer telling me?

2 3 3, 4 1 1

Very nice, even if I have no name for this mileage reading.

Maybe it's just a Tina Tuesday thing, this one time.

(smile!)

three plays on a dark and stormy night!

Well, that comes later in the story.

First, though, was the second night of the "Student Directed One Act Play Festival" for the seniors at Savannah Arts Academy.

If I had researched their fb page, I would have known that the plays last night were different from the ones tonight, so perhaps I would have gone there instead of the Purple Planet...

but that's a moot point now.

Alas, alack, and all that.

(smile!)

Honestly, if I'd cared that much, I could have asked Jayme while she was there with me, but I didn't.

Instead, I talked with her about Savannah Stage Company and what was going on with them.

I'm so glad they stay busy with shows in the schools, as well as improv classes and acting classes for youths, but I'll be even happier to see one of their new plays!

Speaking of plays, just what did I see tonight?

The first one, the one Jayme was there to see, was "Antigone Now", a variation of the one that SavStageCo did in November. 

This one had more modern language, as well as a boombox.

Different, right, but true to the tale in its particulars.

Very nicely done, Tyson Ford-Everett!

The second one, "The Importance Of Being Earnest", was another that I knew.

The farce about girls insisting that their betrothed be named "Earnest", rather than "Jack" or "Algernon", led to come quite comical moments!

And here was something I had not remembered: one of the guys, as a baby, had been discarded and then later adopted...

sparkly shades of a "Bright Star" moment!

Good work, Mya Smith!

And let me go ahead and say "nice choice" to Ezra Gadsden for the third play!

I had never heard of "The Hope And Heartache Diner" before!

What a marvelous setting: Duke's Diner, a family-owned, third-generation business begun by a great-grandfather who still frequented the joint as a ghost.

The grandparents of the young person, Felix, who narrated the tale were also ghosts.

Felix doesn't really want to take over the business, but doesn't want to disappoint the folks.

Still, everyone knows that Felix is going to leave for a while, but first wants to prove that they are capable of doing a full day and night of managing the diner.

That gets pretty humorous!

Such a nice evening out... and all for free!

(smile!)

But the weather had shifted in the almost three-hour time span of the festival.

I'd heard thunder during the first play, then again in the last one.

Fortunately, there was only light rain as I walked to my car...

but then the bottom fell out of the clouds!

Oh, no!

I drove home between lightning flashes and heavy rainfall!

All I kept thinking about were the defensive driving lessons from the afternoon session with the IMPROV Traffic School course.

I'd done three chapters: "Speeding", "Passing", and "Stopping Distance".

All three seemed pertinent as I drove more slowly than usual, windshield wipers on double speed, on wet, dark streets.

At least the skies had been clear when I'd gone there!

Now, I'm safely home again, and well entertained, and all within my budget.

What's on the telly?

(smile!)

another musical and another dance!

That made the 5th and 6th holiday events since this month began!

Unless I count each day of the "Christmas With The King" individually -

then yesterday's musical and today's dance would be 7th and 8th.

Hmmm... I'll have to give that issue some thought.

Meanwhile, I can most def say they were a musical and a dance!

 

The musical was "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", performed by the Savannah Children's Theatre, but with a few tweaks from last year.

The first concerned Sam the Snowman.

He's supposed to sing, he's always sung... but, not this time!

The young man portraying him has puberty voice, so holding a tune without cracking is simply beyond his means.

So, he lip-synced while others did the tunes alloted to that character.

(smile!)

The second change was the gender of Moonracer.

Heretofore, the title was "King" and the gender "male"... but, not this time!

A girl with long, curly, blonde tresses played the ruler of the Island of Misfit Toys.

As I told her after the show, that made her "Queen" Moonracer!

(smile!)

Those changes made the show unique, so that worked for me, and everyone else!

I had been pleasantly surprised to find seats still available for the Friday evening show.

I'd sped over from the low head-count Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta (no Laura, Betsy, Jimmy, or Becca) in hopes of procuring a ticket, and did so easily!

Hooray!

So, why this photo of food?

That's Tacos Pancho, the dish Laura usually orders.

Her mom fell and broke a hip, so Laura had to go up to Missouri to tend to her (and attend a brother-in-law's funeral).

I posted this on fb to let her know she was missed.

She liked that I did that.

(smile!)

 

I liked that I caught the SavChTh play last night!

That opened up today's afternoon for another Christmas show!

"The Nutcracker" had a matinee performance that I longed to see... so now I could!

The kids in the Dance Department at the Savannah Arts Academy put it on this weekend.

[Note to self: Don't wear a pocketless dress without having a clear bag for those items that usually are carried in pockets.

My butterfly tote bag nearly had to stay on the lobby floor!

Fortunately, I was early, so I was able to take it back to my car.]

What a delight to see this ballet live again!

It's just been years... well, not including the one watched on TV on Thursday.

That was good, but I didn't have to leave my house to see it, so it isn't one of my holiday-themed events that I'm counting.

Hey, my little game, my little rules!

(smile!)

Back to "The Nutcracker" seen today... which had its own unique twists.

That included a gender twist for one of the antagonists.

The Mouse wearing the crown sported a black tutu!

That made it a Mouse Queen, not the usual Mouse King.

(smile!)

Here's what I continue to enjoy about this ballet: the dolls that dance in Clara's dream sequence vary from one show to another.

For this performance, one change had Little Bo-Peep searching for her sheep!

I kid you not!

(Yes, this looks like a pun, but baby sheep are lambs, not kids.)

It was an absolutely adorable sequence, with the four sheep - plus a sweet little black sheep! - coming around while she sought them.

Adorable!!!

Another change involved the acrobats/clowns: they came from under a giant circus tent that served as the pants of a gigantic clown that poured drinks for himself as the four dancers entertained us.

Very amusing indeed!

My favorite, as always, was the snake charmer and snake routine.

The young man was very adept in his dance, but he was also quite strong, as he had to be; the young woman performing the sinuous movements of the cobra was taller than him and weighed more than the dainty, short lasses usually in ballets.

Together, they were quite an impressive pair!

I do wish they had more stage time.

(smile!)

 

It was all perfectly timed to have me home for the hour-long version of "The Carol Burnett Show", this time with Glen Campbell on to help her with her ukelele. 

Hahahaha!

So fun to see him again!

I even had po' girl ceviche for slunch as I watched.

That's a treat I don't eat very often these days, but today felt like spring and got into the mid-70's, allowing me to open the house earlier.

Bliss!!!

And then guess what?

The Universe gave me an inside joke!

"Keeping Up Appearances" aired "Skis", from s5 e5, with poor Richard receiving snow skis, of all things, from his wife for his birthday.

LOL!

That wasn't the joke, though it sure was funny.

Here's the joke: the vicar was working in his garden, singing...

ready for this?...

"Rhinestone Cowboy"!!!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!!!

(smile!)

many thanks to jayme tinti of Savannah Stage Company!

Without you, mi amigas y yo would have missed out on "The Prom"!

Fortunately, I saw your post on fb.

"#TheatreInSavannah has something for everyone this weekend!
 

Looking for classic #musicaltheatre? The Savannah Theatre has got you! FiddlerOnTheRoof has been playing to packed houses all month!

If it’s a more modern musical you’re looking for, no worries, Savannah Arts Academy Theatre is on it! Go see students stand up for themselves and what they believe in, on stage and off in The Prom!

Speaking of contemporary pieces, Savannah Repertory Theatre has got a few tickets left for Lifespan of a Fact, but don’t sleep on it because they’re mostly sold out!

Or bring it back to where it all started, at a time where it’s never been more relevant! We’ll be out at Tybee Post Theater all weekend serving a twist on the classic Greek story of #Antigone!"

 

What joy filled my heart at your words!

I had already seen the SavRepTh last weekend, and you had redeemed the last play on my 2023 Season Pass to see "Antigone" last night...

plus, I'd had double doses of "Fiddler On The Roof" already this year, first from Savannah Country Day School in February, then during God On Broadway last month at Asbury Memorial, so no desire to see that a third time...

but I'd heard naught about a production of "The Prom"...

and it was high on my list of plays I wanted to see!!!

So, I contacted Barbara justthatfast and she, in turn, contacted Sandy and Kaye, who all wanted to see it as much as I did...

and this was its final performance!!!

Fortunately, we all got tickets, so we also got to see their new performance center.

Very nice!

Plus, we were able to talk with some of the actors afterward!

They were thrilled to find that we weren't parents or grandparents or any kind of family to anyone associated with the musical.

Nope!

We were just ordinary Savannah locals familiar with the school, ordinary Savannah locals who love musicals and loved having this one fall into our laps for a Saturday night!

Believe me, I have the website bookmarked and will add it into my rotation of information sources for future outings.

They have several choral and dance performances next month and I hope to see all!

I especially want to see "The Nutcracker"... it feels like ages since I've been!

So, Jayme, thank you for making our night sparkle and shine!

(smile!)