is neverland the same as heaven?

As per J.M. Barrie in his 1904 play and 1911 book about Peter and Wendy, Neverland is a place of no pain and no heartache, where there is no need to grow up, where pirates can be battled as if it were all a game.

In other words, Neverland was the ideal dream for boys.

Today, for our fourth and final installment of the GOB sermon series at Asbury Memorial Church, "Finding Neverland", a modern musical, was chosen.

 

It's authors have imagined how J.M. Barrie came to write his play, and Ryan McCurdy - perfect as both 'Peter Pan' or the playwright - flew in from New York City for the role.

I know, I know... that sounds like the setup for an inside joke, doesn't it?

Perhaps it was.

Coincidence that our airport has direct flights to that town?

Coincidence that I arrived late and had to sit in the narthex?

Coincidence that I not only had a clear view of the stage, but that the actors had a clear view of me and my reactions?

Coincidence that 'Peter' was modeled after the Barrie brother who had died?

Hmm... 

perhaps it was an inside joke meant from Ronnie to me.

All I know for sure is that I cried at the end.

Most definitely right place, right time.

i thank You, God.

frenchie and the beast

Musical in the morning!

Musical in the afternoon!

I wonder if I'll be treated to a musical tonight?

We'll see!

Tony and Laura's new TV plan has an incredible inventory that I've hardly begun to sample.

I know Dane won't care as long as he gets his evening treat of doggy ice cream!

Today began with another GOB musical at Asbury Memorial and this one was a long time favorite that I've eagerly anticipated: "Grease"!!!

From the backdrop - a rendition of Savannah Arts Academy, standing in for the show's "Rydell High School" - to the musical numbers, it lived up to the hype!

I'd already heard the choir sing "We Go Together" at the karaoke night. 

They performed that twice today!

Even so, this one - "Beauty School Drop-Out" - was hands down my favorite!

Sure, having the Gretchen Greene Dancers there for "Born To Hand Jive" was lots of fun, as they are quite an energetic bunch.

But the young woman playing 'Frenchie' stayed in character for the entire service, and that was quite impressive!

Plus, I always liked 'Frenchie', as she was such a sweet girl, even if she was the most "mixed-up non-delinquent on the block", as 'Teen Angel' called her in this scene.

Truly was wonderful!

Plus, we ended the day with "The Trees Of The Field" - sweet!!!

 

My next event was the matinee performance of "Beauty And The Beast" at SavChTh.

Sure, I knew it was sold-out before I even went, but I also know they try to not ever turn anyone away if they show up in person.

And, guess what?

I got a seat!

Sweet!

However, that's not my photo, and that isn't my hand, either.

Danielle Houston took that shot when she and Thomas went last night.

Still, that's the typical pic I would have taken, so I borrowed it from her fb page!

I was seated too far up, and with too many intervening others, to have taken such a fine photograph.

How was the musical?

Well, it's only been six years since I last saw it.

Danielle was in that 2018 performance, as one of the town wenches 

eager for Gaston's attentions.

Somehow, I kept flashing back to that version during this one.

Not that Joel Cadoff's 'Beast' wasn't magnificent... because he was.

Not that Chris Bass and Daniel Malone didn't shine as 'Cogsworth'

and 'Lumiere'... because they did.

Not that Matt Myles wasn't absolutely perfect as the muscle-bound

'Gaston'... because he was a total hunk!

Not that Saree Fioravanti wasn't spot-on delightful as 'Belle'...

because her and her voice were quite lovely.

I think it was because I felt lost in the crowd, way up high, in the dark.

I'll have to be more mindful of that in the future.

avenue Q at henry and waters

If I had been as early as I was last week, I might have missed my pew mates. 

See the thin woman in the blue dress, standing there in the middle?

She's Ellen and to her right is Amanda Kulkowski.

If not for Amanda saying my name, I might have passed right by, given my inability to spot people in a crowd.

But she did!

So I'm right there, beside Amanda, with my long hair loose and down for the cooler weather.

Directly behind me is Ryan McCurdy.

He, like Amanda, greeted with with a big hug -

how wonderful to be there with them this morning!

Why were we standing?

We were singing "happy birthday", facing the on-stage camera, to a house-bound old lady.

We could just as easily have been standing to belt out "Amazing Grace", though!

Did I say "belt it out"?

That means it was to the tune of "The House Of The Rising Sun"!!!

I do so love that version!

In fact, I love it so much that after the service, I fixed myself a snack at Holliday Hall and headed out to Greenwich, where I sang the first and last stanzas for Mama, Frank, George, and Miss Zaida.

That was great fun!

I was delighted to see that the big trees had weathered Hurricane Helene well.

I made a little stack of branches that were down.

Plus, I gathered up the bouquets and loose flowers that had been blown around.

Glad I keep large take-out bags in my car for when I have trash detail there.

 

Oh, I have just rambled on and not said a word about the GOB service, haven't I?

Well, the stage was populated with puppets this time!!!

"Avenue Q" was the featured choice, and we even had Ken Roberson - the choreographer of the 2003 musical - in the audience with us!!!

One of the songs, "There's A Fine, Fine Line", was sung by Alex Swanger as she operated the puppet, Kate.

Such a fun tune about breakups... but with a bit of a snarky side.

I admit, I wasn't very familiar with this musical, as I haven't seen it again since it was performed at Club One back in August of 2012.

I hadn't written much about it on fb, and I wrote nothing about it in my blog.

I feel sure it was because of the snark, and the mean tone underlying the words of nearly every song.

That's just isn't my thing, n'est-ce pas?

But it was good to see the puppets and be reminded of Angela Beasley.

oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!

All he was missing from the first time was that blue gingham shirt he'd worn!

He had the cowboy hat and the jeans and the leather vest still, but not that shirt.

That's okay...

the last time he'd entered singing that song was October 2, 2005.

It's quite likely that shirt doesn't even exist anymore!

"Oklahoma!" had been the very first God On Broadway (GOB) production here at Asbury Memorial, and Jeff and I were still newcomers at the church.

This musical had convinced me that this was the right place for me!

I remembered watching the movie version of the play with Mama several times over the years, with us singing along with the songs.

How wonderful to have heard those songs again in 2005, then again today!

Here, I was the only one turned around in my seat, awaiting his entrance, at 11:15.

Everyone else soon caught on, but I was the first!

"Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' " as Rev. Billy "Curly" Hester entered...

"The Farmer And The Cowman Should Be Friends", with the choir members up on the stage all in costume and dancing...

"I Cain't Say No" from Cheri "Annie" Hester, with hair in two ponytails...

and, of course, the title song, "Oklahoma!", as a rousing finale by all!

Nice to hear "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "People Will Say We're In Love", even without the words!

Yes, I just may have to watch the video of today's GOB service again!

What a blessing to have that option!

(smile!)

Oh, one more thing: a photo of me from the Sing & Swing!

I can't say which song I was doing at the time, but how cool that someone took a picture of me doing karaoke!

I found that little surprise in this month's church newsletter.

Hope we'll have another of those events sometime soon!

(smile!)