Saturday in NYC

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I went into NYC with several friends -- Lori's birthday trip, arranged by Laurie, and with Jess, Lisa, and a bunch of people -- (Hi, y'all) -- and saw Mamma Mia on Broadway. This clip I found on Youtube gives you the feel of it --it isn't the best quality, it is a bit jarring at first, but it evens out... The scenery was basically the same but I don't think this clip is from Broadway...



I was one of the few people in our group who hadn't already seen the play or the movie at least, which actually worked out great for me because the story was all new to me. It was very enjoyable.

I wasn't a real big ABBA fan in the old days, but they had some great catchy tunes. I never owned any of their music, but the play made me want to go out and get some.

I especially love this song, although when I was "17, young and sweet" I certainly wasn't a "dancin' queen." Although the song makes me wish that when I WAS 17 I lived life with less inhibitions and more abandon. Even just watching the actors on stage made me think back to being that age, and acting. I was in a few college plays, but I wasn't brave enough emotionally to put it out there, and I didn't make enough of a commitment to acting to be good at it. I always was too reserved. I guess it's a good lesson going forward, too, isn't it? One of those life lessons that everyone spouts, and in theory you know, but putting in practice is hard. You've gotta live life to the fullest. You've gotta get busy living or get busy dying. You fail at everything that you don't attempt.

And it isn't to early to start NOW; that was part of the point to the show too, I think. The daughter in the story is getting married, and the Mom has been living her life taking care of her, and even though at first you think the story is about the daughter's wedding, you find out quickly it's about the mom's life more than anything else.

The "happily ever after" ending is nice... but if you think about it, it's really only the beginning. The time to live is now, and there is no such thing as "happily ever after." There is never an ending, always a new beginning. (And I guess on Broadway, there is a new happily-ever-after ending every single day, and then they do it all over again for the next performance.) How amazing it is that those actors can stay so ENTHUSIASTICE ALL THE TIME! Even when the scenes were being changed, and the stage was dim, they were in character and choreographed and ENTHUSIASTIC!!! Well, they are living the dream on Broadway, so if anyone SHOULD be excited, they should.

Anyway, the play was great. We all had a really good time, and then after the play we went to "Ellen's Stardust Diner" which was diner food with singing waiters -- and I do mean CONSTANTLY singing waiters -- and really talented, too. We got in right as the show let out, and got a table with no wait, and then the place filled up quick. The food was really good, and as our waiters came around and took our orders, they also took turns singing songs. It was a little loud... and you do run the risk of being sung too, or having a microphone shoved in your face. But going back to that "live life" lesson, how bad is that really?

The waiters were ALSO unbelieveably enthusiastic. They must be EXHAUSTED at the end if their shift.

Well, all in all it was a lovely day.