Yesterday, my mom and I went to a musical, sort of.
Okay, I need to preface this story with some background information.
My whole family is musically inclined in one way or another. We all sing, my dad plays organ and piano and my brother pretty much plays everything. We all like going to live shows and performances, although my dad tends to favor Gilbert and Sullivan while my brother prefers bands of which I've never heard.
So, when my mom told me she got tickets for the touring show of Ain't Misbehavin', I was pretty excited. I'd never seen it before and it featured Ruben Studdard, Frenchie Davis and Trenyce Cobbins from American Idol. What's not to like?
Anyway, my mom and I showed up to the theater last night, both ready to enjoy an evening of song, dance and general frivolity.
We both got settled in our seats, turned off our phones and opened our programs. I flipped to the listing of songs in each act.
My jaw dropped.
There were fifteen songs in the first Act. The conversation that followed between my mom and I probably sounded fairly normal to those sitting nearby, but for us, it had a completely different meaning:
What we said...
Sara: I didn't realize this show had so many songs.
Mom: Yeah, both acts look pretty long.
Sara: Isn't 30 Rock on at 9:30?
Mom: Oh, right. We're probably going to miss it.
Sara: Yeah, probably. Hey, I think we can move closer at intermission.
Mom: I'll bet you're right.
What we meant...
Sara: Oh, dear God. Did you realize how long this thing is?
Mom: I can't sit through this whole thing.
Sara: I am not missing 30 Rock.
Mom: Pfft, me neither!
Sara: Let's leave at half-time.
Mom: Two steps ahead of you.
What's funny is that it wasn't a bad show (well, what we saw of it). All the performers were quite good and easy to listen to. It wasn't that long, either. The first act was probably 45 minutes. It made no difference. Our attention spans were already shot.
Several times during the first act, one of us would lean over to the other and make a deep, philosophical observation about the show.
Mom: I was thinking about France for most of that song.
Sara: That's so weird because I was thinking about this French song I'm working on for my voice lessons!
...and then later...
Mom: Wanna get breakfast at Panera tomorrow?
Sara: Do I?!
...and then at half-time...
Sara: Maybe we should "walk around the lobby".
Mom: Good idea.
I would love to say that this is the first time something like this has ever happened (or that it will never happen again), but I'd be reserving my seat in Hades, right next to Pinocchio and Richard Nixon.
On a completely separate note, my good friend and fellow blogger, Lisa, has a brand new blog! It's called The Blonde Blogette and it's all about movies, music, pop culture and just about any other form of entertainment you can think of. She Facebooks, she Twitters, she blogs... she does it all!
On another, but final, completely separate note, it's disgustingly gorgeous outside. It's all I can do not to run outside and perform an interpretive ribbon dance to Miley Cyrus's "It's the Climb".
Oh, come on. You just wish you'd thought of it first.
Okay, I need to preface this story with some background information.
My whole family is musically inclined in one way or another. We all sing, my dad plays organ and piano and my brother pretty much plays everything. We all like going to live shows and performances, although my dad tends to favor Gilbert and Sullivan while my brother prefers bands of which I've never heard.
So, when my mom told me she got tickets for the touring show of Ain't Misbehavin', I was pretty excited. I'd never seen it before and it featured Ruben Studdard, Frenchie Davis and Trenyce Cobbins from American Idol. What's not to like?
Anyway, my mom and I showed up to the theater last night, both ready to enjoy an evening of song, dance and general frivolity.
We both got settled in our seats, turned off our phones and opened our programs. I flipped to the listing of songs in each act.
My jaw dropped.
There were fifteen songs in the first Act. The conversation that followed between my mom and I probably sounded fairly normal to those sitting nearby, but for us, it had a completely different meaning:
What we said...
Sara: I didn't realize this show had so many songs.
Mom: Yeah, both acts look pretty long.
Sara: Isn't 30 Rock on at 9:30?
Mom: Oh, right. We're probably going to miss it.
Sara: Yeah, probably. Hey, I think we can move closer at intermission.
Mom: I'll bet you're right.
What we meant...
Sara: Oh, dear God. Did you realize how long this thing is?
Mom: I can't sit through this whole thing.
Sara: I am not missing 30 Rock.
Mom: Pfft, me neither!
Sara: Let's leave at half-time.
Mom: Two steps ahead of you.
What's funny is that it wasn't a bad show (well, what we saw of it). All the performers were quite good and easy to listen to. It wasn't that long, either. The first act was probably 45 minutes. It made no difference. Our attention spans were already shot.
Several times during the first act, one of us would lean over to the other and make a deep, philosophical observation about the show.
Mom: I was thinking about France for most of that song.
Sara: That's so weird because I was thinking about this French song I'm working on for my voice lessons!
...and then later...
Mom: Wanna get breakfast at Panera tomorrow?
Sara: Do I?!
...and then at half-time...
Sara: Maybe we should "walk around the lobby".
Mom: Good idea.
I would love to say that this is the first time something like this has ever happened (or that it will never happen again), but I'd be reserving my seat in Hades, right next to Pinocchio and Richard Nixon.
On a completely separate note, my good friend and fellow blogger, Lisa, has a brand new blog! It's called The Blonde Blogette and it's all about movies, music, pop culture and just about any other form of entertainment you can think of. She Facebooks, she Twitters, she blogs... she does it all!
On another, but final, completely separate note, it's disgustingly gorgeous outside. It's all I can do not to run outside and perform an interpretive ribbon dance to Miley Cyrus's "It's the Climb".
Oh, come on. You just wish you'd thought of it first.
33 comments:
I am very honored, although equally embarrassed, to be the subject of your blog. Still...one has priorities, and 30 Rock holds the meaning of life.
(Sorry...I messed up the first try)
Aww shucks! Thanks for the shout-out! I appreciate your support. And I love how you and your mom speak a secret Tyner language! You are hilarious. And yes, 30 Rock trumps American Idol has-beens any day.
ahhhh ha ha ha ha! love the translation. totally get the translation. totally. half-time, yes.
I love your mom/daughter translations! And yes, Tina Fey is never on the bottom of the prioritization pile. Never.
Here's the thing...
When this came to Ball State last semester, my voice teacher decided I needed to be seeing more negro theatre, so he sent me to this production (which was free, so fine).
Well, by the time it got to intermission, I realized that the place on campus where I get my custom made Angus Beef burgers would be closing in 15 minutes. So...yes, for the first time, I walked out of a show.
Then the next day, I found out that some of my classmates went to meet Frenchie Davis after the show and got to smoke a blunt with her in her hotel room, and I swear to God I didn't make any of this up.
That's too funny. I also come from a very musically inclined family - my mother worked at a community theater when I was growing up, and my dad was in a lot of the shows, and admittedly, though I love musical theater, "Ain't Misbehavin" is not in my list of top 10 musicals. I don't even think it cracks the top 50. Especially if 30 Rock is the competition! :)
HAHA...I love that conversation in code, you two had! It's funny how polite we sound to the folks around us, but the ones we love really know us:)
Hey, I'll give Blondie a visit after I'm done reading about the Donkey and giving you kudos & congrats:)
I'm sorry but there really is no reason on the planet to miss 30 Rock. For shame! ;o)
Happy SITS day!
Substitute The Office for 30 Rock and I could have written this!
Yes to the ribbon dance.
And... go.
I have forgone much more important things than a concert for 30 Rock...and I would do it again!
hello DVR???
Tell me you stayed for 'A Little Cash for Your Trash'. That's a goodie.
Sounds like you and your Mom have a great relationship. :)
Heh. My friend and I just went to the theatre and had almost the same conversation which amounted to "How long is this show?!". And we enjoyed the show it was just a little long. I think theatre might do better if they shortened their shows by a tad...just saying.
I haven't been to a show in faaaaaaar too long. :( I envy you.
I once left in the middle of a show too. I couldn't help it. I fell asleep during the first act. I come from a theatre/singing background too, so I can appreciate good stuff. But I do agree with you, 15 songs in Act I is a lot. Even if it is only 45 minutes long.
My mom and I have back-and-forth's that sound strikingly similar to this one all the time...except we are usually talking about people in public - which always embarrasses my dad...LOVE IT!
~WM
An interpretive ribbon dance to The Climb? Rad! I totally DO wish I had thought of it first :P
I PPH your blog (that's puffy pink heart or something equally as gay). <3
I had a similar situation recently. It'd been a long frustrating day for both my friend and I, and we had plans to go to this concert, then go get drinks after. The concert was a nobody band, and it kind of dragged on longer than we expected, AND there was a HORRIBLE draft, we were freezing.
The whole time we kept saying to each other, "It's so cold!" and "Man, I just want to get drunk."
We didn't leave early, but I know we were both thinking about it.
I love music but I would have been out at intermission as well!
Pinocchio is in Hades? When did he die? And to think, he was just a boy when he passed on. :P
I have enjoyed visiting your blog today - it's been so much fun!
@cheapchichome.blogspot.com
How funny is that!
Sounds like the kind of code hubs and I have. Sometimes, though, you just gotta do what ya gotta do!
But, seriously girl, you have to get a DVR! ;)
"It's all I can do not to run outside and perform an interpretive ribbon dance to Miley Cyrus's "It's the Climb"."
Some of us wuold pay good money to see this.
Just sayin'....
I'm wondering if your entertainment of each other is what you kept you at the show.
Lobby walkers!
For the record, I'd rather sing, "Nobody's Perfect".
I gotta work it, again, and again til I get it right.
That is too bad!
The last show hubby and I saw was Rock of Ages and it was amazing! I would highly recommend it.
I don't have a ribbon or a Miley Cyrus CD, but do, however, have the Deluxe Collector's Edition of Dirty Dancing. Guess who will be performing the final dance solo?
Nobody puts baby in the corner!
Can't believe you walked out on Ruben.....tsk. tsk.
Bwahhahah! I just busted out laughing to hubby and tried to explain the ribbon dance thing and it failed miserably! but i still think you are awesome and i will follow anyone who can make me laugh out loud!
sounds like my family...except the getting along with your mom part..oh well
I would leave for Survivor or Project Runway or Criminal Minds.
Yeah, I don't miss The Office, Parks and Rec or It's Always Sunny in Philly for much.
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