Shows We've Seen

Gemma, Josh and I have been partaking, lately.

You may have heard of North Korea's intention to launch a long range intercontinental ballistic missile.  So you may be able to imagine how busy Bryan has been at work.

Man.  Lately, I have needed to get out of the house.

***

The Muppets.

I was amazed it took such a crusade to get this movie made.  Who doesn't love the Muppets?  What theater Exec wasn't on that idea at the first one-line pitch?

And why isn't that show on, anymore?  There was a brief window of time that intersected my being old enough to understand that a show came on at a certain time on a certain station each week and the Muppets airing every Sunday night.

I watched it, and liked it, and didn't understand half the jokes that my Dad was laughing at, and he liked it, too.

Liked the movie, by the way.  So did the kids.

***

My first two movie theater memories:

Seeing Annie--the one with Carol Burnette--with MLQ and her kids.  She took me and Sister #4 along.  I only remember that she brought baggies of popcorn with her.  And that the "Little Girls" song scared me.

And, believe it or not, my other early memory is of The Empire Strikes Back, which Mr. Q (MLQ's husband) took us to for Michael Q's birthday.  I remember falling asleep either on his lap or against his shoulder.

I do not remember the popcorn situation for that one.

But does Joshua fall asleep while watching The Empire Strikes Back today?  No, sir.

***

This memory casting brings to mind two other shows from my youth that I watched faithfully.

First:  Moonlighting.  I can still sing the theme song.  ("Some walk by night. . . .")  A good mystery each week. 

The Second:  L. A. Law.  Oh, how I loved that show!  Each one posed a different ethical dilemma in a different case.  I would argue in my head about how it should be settled, long after the episode had ended.

A friend in college had the entire series of L. A. Law on VHS and we watched many of them in one of those college-era marathons that sprung up over random topics.

Didn't like them as much as an adult.  (Was I an adult then?. . .) 

It says something that the Muppets can appeal to me at age 7 and 37, and something else about these other shows that didn't live past my age of 14.

***

The kids and I went to Simpich in Old Colorado City.

The owner/performer is the son of owners/performers and the whole Simpich thing--doll shop, museum, theater showcase--is an institution around here.

I only just learned about them, though.

The production is all in marionettes.  (Cue the Sound of Music yodeling show. . .) 

These marionettes don't have movable mouths, and David Simpich is visible for the entire show.  But he's also invisible.  He faded into the story.

He moved the puppets and did a voice for each one and performed his own sound effects--it was marvelous.  Truly: a marvel.  The most amazing story-telling I've ever seen.

The show we took in was The Firebird.  The kids were enchanted.

The new show opening soon is The Secret Garden.  And the only thing stopping me from purchasing season tickets is that you have to pick your dates in advance.

***

We found ourselves at the library just in time for one of their Spring Break special performances.  They hosted an act called "Hip Hop for Kids." 

I had a long list of errands to knock out that didn't include a one hour production, but you've got to be flexible, right?

The show featured a man named Neil McIntyre.  A white guy who could do a beat box.  A really, really great beat box.

He had the kids on their feet and dancing for the whole show.  Not instructed dancing at all.  Just. . .move your body dancing and Gemma and Josh were swept up in the action. 

It's precious to see about 75 children, ages 9 and under, all "dancing" simply because they liked the beat. 

Not sure what I thought of his opening lyrics:

Hello, Hello Everybody
Even if your nose is snotty
Whether you pee in your pants or the potty
Hello, Hello Everybody

Hello, Hello Everybody
Even if your nose is snotty
Whether you drop a deuce in your pants or the potty
Hello, Hello Everybody


Really gross.
I don't the kids even caught it.  But the Moms all cringed.

Heck of a way to make a living.

***

The weather had been gorgeous, as I've mentioned. 

The herd on the cul-de-sac had water fights all day Saturday and Sunday evening.  That's how warm it had been.

Today--I write on Tuesday, this posts on Wednesday--schools had a snow day and we woke to about 3 inches of hail on the ground.

Gemma was supposed to go to her weekly Home School Academy. . .but. . .Snow day!

I took them to see Hugo at the dollar theater.

Long movie.  Kind of slow story-telling, too.  But it satisfied.  Resolved well.  Had good heroes.  A good villain.  And it made me want to live in a clock. 

The kids said they liked it, too.  But they like every movie they see in a theater and we had met friends there, so the day could not have been more fun.

***

Which of what we do and see will appeal in 30 years? 

Did something about the artistry in Simpich plant a seed? 

Or the fascinating idea that a pig could love a frog?  Or the use of the term "deuce"? 

Or the image of a child clinging to the long arm of a train station clock ticking?