#26: Attend a Dinner Theatre
Months ago, Jeff proposed a plan for our anniversary celebration: attend a local dinner theatre.
You see, he’s being all sneaky. Ever since I wrote up The List back in October, he’s been suggesting or planning things for me off my list. Especially with a baby coming this year, he wants me to experience as many of these things as possible. My birthday included #56, our anniversary was #26, and we have plans in the works (again, his idea) that include #49 and #63.
Yeah, I’m a lucky girl.
So… that Friday night (how nice that our anniversary was on a Friday this year!) we drove up to La Comedia Dinner Theatre just south of Dayton for their production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I forgot my camera (can you believe it?) so you’ll just have to use your imagination for visuals.
We weren’t quite sure what to expect from the schedule for the evening. (Do we eat while the show is going on simultaneously?) Turns out they served a big buffet down on the stage after the salad course. You even get a chance at seconds, as if we could eat any more after piling our plates high the first time around. They offered a nice selection of vegetables, potatoes, breads, and meats, but with a couple exceptions, we thought the food was adequate in quality. Dessert was served to our table after dinner and just before the show.
I grew up loving the movie version of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and was curious what Jeff would think of it. “Musical” is not an automatic turn-off for him, though not his preference. I was also curious how a stage version would compare to the movie and the performances of Howard Keel, Russ Tamblyn, and Jane Powell.
I felt like we got the abbreviated, just-hit-the-high-points version of the story. I enjoyed it because I enjoyed the movie and the songs, but in a walk-down-memory-lane sort of way. I think it’s best to have seen the movie beforehand. That said, the supporting actors especially were very good. We both enjoyed the parts when the seven brothers and seven brides sang in unison. The dances and costumes were terrific. The poor male lead kept trying so hard to live up to Howard Keel, but that’s just impossible.
The theatre was quite nice inside and bigger than either of us expected. The service and atmosphere were also nice. The low lights and table for two set a nice atmosphere for our celebratory occasion.
While I didn’t love this particular experience as much I expected to, it was fun just to get out and try something fun and new together.
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I haven’t seen that movie in years! I would love to take my daughter to a dinner theater, since she is so into all things theater. I’m glad you had a good time!
Oooh, yeah, I bet she’d love something like that!
Ugh I hated that movie. …. no offense. It was just way too happy for me. And all the fundie girls I grew up with danced in their culottes and sang the songs and got married way too young and stuff. It’s forever associated with that, to me. “Oh I’m a peppy female, watch me chide this man, oh now we’re married and I will be submissive, but remember my spunky days, I’m no sucker, now let me marry off all these girls AT THE SAME TIME, any girls will do.” And the Sabine (sp?) women part encapsulated the horror of the movie. It was supposed to be a joke, but that’s kind of exactly what happened. As evidenced by all of them “marrying” AT THE SAME TIME.
Scary, scary stuff, man.
Yeah, I can see how you’d react that way. Growing up I mostly just loved the dancing, music (not the slow songs though), and costumes. As I got older, the Sabine women part bugged me a little, but the guys do figure out they were idiots for that. I think the main girl (Millie) keeps her spunk all the way through. It’s supposed to be light-hearted and fun, and that’s how I always interpreted it.
What? You didn’t like the song Millie sings to her husband among the flowers? While picking them?! …. That’s all I remember about that song.
Ugh, I hate that song! It’s right up there with “Climb Every Mountain” from Sound of Music.
Dude, last time I watched Sound of Music, I ADORED Climb Every Mountain… Just the significance of someone in the church saying “You don’t need to do things the ‘Christian’ way to be right.” It was super moving. I identified with it much more as an adult. Also, the song speaks to the elusiveness of success.
the list is a good idea! get as many as you can done before the baby comes because it will be much more difficult to do them after.
Okay, too many replies, but this is back to you again, Jaimie. I should clarify about Climb Every Mountain – it’s not the meaning or even the music, it’s the way Mother Superior sings it. It has always bugged me. Maybe I’m just weird and that’s kind of shallow. I do like when they play the instrumental version as they climb the Alps in the ending scene – very powerful.
that sounds sooo cool. i think i would love it–i love pretty much all live performing (concerts, orchestras, theater…). and, yes. i hated how mother superior sang that song. fast forwarded it every time i could. 😉