Think of Me... Think of Me Fondly...

So I spent my Friday evening with my Mother and Brother. A short lightrail ride and even shorter walk took us to the Performing Arts Center where we had tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera. Yes, I do love a live performance. The big theater (what is the name? not the Buell, but the Ballet theater) Anyways, we arrived with ample time to have a drink from the several scattered bars in the lobby. Isn't that the only reason to arrive early, to drink and judge people's outfits? Not that we were the best dressed in the house. I tried my damnest to look the part of a posh twenty-something out on the town with her Mother, let me tell you it's not easy for me to even look like a twenty-something let alone posh. My brother was somewhat of a smudge (sorry Kenny- I love you) on my beautified entourage. He wore jeans, a 'Savers' sweatshirt as he himself calls it and vans. He did however help with the posh-ness with our grandfather's wool newsboy cap upon his head.

So, yes we sort of looked fabulous which was countered with my Mother's extreme anxiety of getting to our seats on time (mind you we had 10 mins and I still had half a glass of champagne). The Phantom starts and the singing gives me chills. The blurred faces were nice to squint at, as I forgot to bring my glasses. I could however admire the dreamy costumes along with the giant chandelier that hung above the audience waiting to crash down and ruin someone elses' face (isn't that why the Phantom wears a mask?)

The 15-17 minute intermission was just enough time to wait in the women's neverending powder- room line and chug some more champagne. But I tell ya, the only reason I was able to defy such a time crunch was because of our wonderful bartender who let us know an amazing fact before the show. Now listen up this is important! You can prepay for champagne or your chosen poision and they will have it waiting on the side of the bar for you at intermission. I mean, what a simple but fantastic idea! So as the lights are blinking and the ushers are closing the doors to the theater I chug my glass and bump my way back to my seat for the second half of Phantom.

My Mother did shed a few tears and I almost...almost did at the end. I welded up during the standing ovation but didn't blink enough to send the watery drops down my face. Oh the theater, another one of my long lost dreams.

If you want a sum up, it would be this: Go see it if you enjoy drama and goosebumps, prepay for drinks at intermission and dress the part- so I can't judge you in my corner.

I still have 'Mascarade' stuck in my head. *%$#$%*