Amy and I had the opportunity to see “White Christmas” at
the Tennessee Theater not long ago. I’m not much for musicals, but this show is
different. The cast and orchestra did a commendable job of presenting one of
the most loved shows for the Christmas season. Other sights during the evening
made the event even more enjoyable.
As is the case with many events at the Tennessee Theater,
the audience was overpowered by heads of gray hair. Some folks had poured the
dye to their heads to hide the gray, but the fact is that most of us “older
folks” were the ones who put behinds in the seats.
It’s always interesting to watch senior citizens at an
event. Some come in gangs and keep together during the evening. They enjoy the
ride to the show as much as the event itself. Many times, the group is
dominated by women who must have outlived their husbands; maybe their mates
chose not to attend the show, but whatever the reason, women are there in
bunches. They seem happier than most others. The secret to that is they have
learned to relax and enjoy life more than the rest of us.
The hallways of the theater don’t accommodate many folks at
once. Dodging people is necessary to reach the right entrance and seat. Every
time I found myself in the foyer, the place was packed. What’s so exasperating
is the some just have no regard for others. They dawdle and make no move to get
out of the flow of traffic. Groups that decided to meet after the show clogged
the traffic flow by standing in the middle of the hallways. They waited in the
same place until the last member of their group arrived.
At intermission, two things stood out. First, patrons acted
like gunslingers and were quick on the draw to retrieve their phones. They sent
texts, checked emails and phone messages, and snapped “selfies” that Amy said
helped them to memorialize the show. I can do that by just remembering the
evening and letting my mind fill in events any way it wants to.
The second thing I noticed was how many folks yawned. The show began a little after 7 p.m. and ran about 2 ½ hours. I suppose that many were sitting through their bed time as the show ran. I yawned,
The best thing I saw that evening was my wife. She makes no
effort to hide her love of musicals. This one was special to her. Her face lit
up with a smile when she heard the orchestra warm up. When the dance numbers
began, she changed; the little girl in her came out as she sat mesmerized.
Right then, I knew the night had been a success, no matter what else might have
been a distraction.
Amy and I enjoyed one of the few nights that we go out for a
special event. I admit that during the show I looked for Bing Crosby, Danny
Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. Still, “White Christmas” was a wonderful musical
for Knoxville folks. It brought out the holiday spirit a bit early, and more
importantly, it brought out the little girl in my wonderful wife. Bravo!
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