Adventures with PhenomeMom
2007-05-02
Giving a child the power of choice can be a dangerous thing, but I like danger. So, I handed Winter a list of theater shows I'd generated from Switch's online theater listings in hopes that one might interest my little critic. I thought for sure she¹d choose "Sound of Music" (showing at Lincoln Community Center) since we both adore the film, but she went for "The 1940s Radio Hour" showing at Biddeford City Theater. Fine by me, it's a shorter drive. Less chance for car sickness.
After getting lost in the "scenic" part of Biddeford, we somehow made it to the theater with 10 minutes to spare. We hurried up the stairs to a room full of anxious chatter. As we waited in the lobby, Winter looked at me, completely disgusted, "You didn't tell me this was an oh-pra."
"It's not an opera, honey, it's a musical."
"Why did you take me to an oh-pra? I never said I wanted to go to an oh-pra."
"Winter, this is a MUSICAL. It says right there on that poster. Look, I dramatically pointed.
"Can we go home? I don't want to be at an oh-pra."
Frustrated, I decided the only way to make her understand was through demonstration. "She's a brick house," I sung with enunciated, exaggerated
vibrato. "That's how opera singers sing. Singers in a musical sing normal like this." I sung the same line as soulful as the Commodores.
"Oh," she said. My feeble attempt at an explanation worked. A young man nodded in approval. He must not have known the difference either.
We entered the theater and patiently waited for the show to begin. "I can't see. That old guy's head is in my way." We moved to another seat as the show
started. "Mum, I can't hear what they're saying," she whined.
"Let me get the universal remote out of my purse and crank the volume," I
snickered. She pushed my arm off the arm rest. "My arm hurts. That's why I have to put it there." Good lord, here we go. I'd begun to think this wasn't such a good idea. "If I have to sit for 90 minutes with Little Miss I-Refuse-to-have-a-Good-Time, I'm going to cross over to the bad crazy," I warned myself.
But as the show continued, we both relaxed. The flashing applause sign brought her smile back and she started to enjoy herself with the introduction of sassy Geneva Lee Browne and clumsy Wally. A sigh of relief escaped me as she put my arm around her and snuggled closer halfway throughthe show.
Victory for PhenomeMom!
After getting lost in the "scenic" part of Biddeford, we somehow made it to the theater with 10 minutes to spare. We hurried up the stairs to a room full of anxious chatter. As we waited in the lobby, Winter looked at me, completely disgusted, "You didn't tell me this was an oh-pra."
"It's not an opera, honey, it's a musical."
"Why did you take me to an oh-pra? I never said I wanted to go to an oh-pra."
"Winter, this is a MUSICAL. It says right there on that poster. Look, I dramatically pointed.
"Can we go home? I don't want to be at an oh-pra."
Frustrated, I decided the only way to make her understand was through demonstration. "She's a brick house," I sung with enunciated, exaggerated
vibrato. "That's how opera singers sing. Singers in a musical sing normal like this." I sung the same line as soulful as the Commodores.
"Oh," she said. My feeble attempt at an explanation worked. A young man nodded in approval. He must not have known the difference either.
We entered the theater and patiently waited for the show to begin. "I can't see. That old guy's head is in my way." We moved to another seat as the show
started. "Mum, I can't hear what they're saying," she whined.
"Let me get the universal remote out of my purse and crank the volume," I
snickered. She pushed my arm off the arm rest. "My arm hurts. That's why I have to put it there." Good lord, here we go. I'd begun to think this wasn't such a good idea. "If I have to sit for 90 minutes with Little Miss I-Refuse-to-have-a-Good-Time, I'm going to cross over to the bad crazy," I warned myself.
But as the show continued, we both relaxed. The flashing applause sign brought her smile back and she started to enjoy herself with the introduction of sassy Geneva Lee Browne and clumsy Wally. A sigh of relief escaped me as she put my arm around her and snuggled closer halfway throughthe show.
Victory for PhenomeMom!
This delightful musical is showing April 27 through May 13 at Biddeford City Theater, located at 205 Main Street in Biddeford. For $20 tickets and show times, call 282-0849.