FINDING AN OLD LOVE AGAIN

It's amazing how long you can go without something and not realize how much you've missed it. Last night I went to the theater. Sure I've been a couple times over the past few years, but that was to see A Christmas Carol-something I've seen a multitude of times. And I went to see The Lion King which was incredible. This was different because I had never seen this play, never seen the sets or the costumes, never heard anyone say any of the lines before. And it brought the excitement I used to have back to me.

I guess you could say I grew up in the theater. My mother loves the theater and acting, so me and my sisters had the pleasure of being exposed to it at a very young age. I can vaguely remember going to Milham park to see the children's outdoor theater productions during the summers. At home, I learned the lyrics to shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, 1776, Evita, and Godspell. Lyrics that I still remember most of today. I got to see productions like The Fantasticks and Twelfth Night done by local theater groups and the national tours of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and A Chorus Line. When I was in high school, I joined choir and worked on the musicals every year. My only experience onstage was in the chorus of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, a horribly dated musical, and I didn't enjoy it at all. I loved working backstage, building sets, being a stage hand, striking the set after the run was over. During our production of Carousel, I was prop master which meant I was in charge of finding needed props and keeping track of them to make sure they were returned to the prop table. And I was stage manager for the talent show my senior year which meant I was responsible for all sound and light cues and making sure everyone was ready to go on. I loved it. I felt that I was really part of a magical experience. Sure it was just high school, but the theater has always had that same wonderful feeling that the movies have had. For the length of time you are there you are transported to a new place, leaving all your problems behind. After I graduated high school and left first for college and then to Florida, my theater exposure was reduced to next to nothing. I did, however, have the pleasure of seeing my mother act in a play before I moved. Please don't ask me what the title was or what it was about because I don't remember. All I remember is watching this incredibly wicked woman doing wretched things who somewhat resembled my mom. I guess I was mesmerized.

So last night I went to see Rabbit Hole. It won the Pulitzer Prize for drama this year. Everything was incredible, the acting, the sets, the directing. You would have never thought they were only in previews. As far as I could tell, last night went off without one hitch. Although the subject matter isn't easy (the death of a child) it successfully blends humor and tenderness with just enough tension. I'm no theater critic, but this play was well worth seeing. Go see it if it comes to a theater near you. (I thought I'd mention that this was my second exposure to a 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner-I also read The Road which won for drama. Pretentious snobbery, here I come!)

So on this Mother's Day, I wanted to take a moment to share how truly wonderful my mother is. Every time I meet someone who says they've never been to a play, I look at them like they're crazy. How could anyone not include such mystery, wonder, and beauty in their lives. Let's face it, going to the theater is just plain fun.

Thank you, Mom, for sharing such a special part of yourself with me and passing down your love of the theater to me. I cherish both it and you every day.