Journey into my Mind - Expect Not Normalcy - MEOW - SMT's "Cats" is a Hit!

I experienced two remarkable things today worth noting, and both were miracles I'm so thankful for; one was expected, and the other was a surprise.  (Are you ready for this?) I got to see BOTH the London Symphony Orchestra AND Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats" in one day!!  What an inundation of culture!  Seeing the LSO was such a surprise.  Yesterday Mom's friend called and told Mom that she had seven extra tickets to see the LSO perform a family oriented concert aimed towards young audiences.  Evidently, the homeschool group that Mom's friend is a part of didn't have as many people going as they anticipated.  This was great news because our entire family could see the LSO for free!  We used 6 of the 7 tickets (Shawn had to work, unfortunately).  Little Drakie's eyes lit up at the sight of the orchestra, and his jaw literally dropped when he saw the size of the drum. :-) Going to this show was so good for the boys, Drake especially, for he comprehends the music most strongly; and he's the youngest of the three!  The conductor connected with the children; he swayed and jerked playfully as he directed the music, and allowed the kids to jingle keys when the onstage bells were due to play.  What a pleasure to watch!  What a blessing!

The LSO show ended at noon, and Shawn picked Michelle and the boys up outside Peabody Auditorium.  Cats began at 2:00; that time interval gave Mom and me just enough time to grab a bite to eat at the Dancing Avocado.  Once we ate our panini (yum!), we drove the extra quarter mile to the Seaside Music Theater and waited in the lobby until the ushers began seating.  If you've never been there, then let me tell you, the SMT has the strangest I think I've ever seen in a theater.  To begin with, it's very small.  Once the show starts the room seems to grow, but as is, the theater's actually quite tiny.  Tables occupy front row center, with row seating behind them.  The left and right walls are lined with seating, too.  What's odd is that they have a concession within the theater itself and not in the lobby!  You can order cheesecake and coffee and wine - as long as your lap can juggle it, you can order it.  When the show began, I realized that the performers are not restricted to the stage.  They dance along the isles and single out audience members and climb along small platforms lining the left and right walls.  What's more, the music was outstanding!  The costumes were simple, yet perfect, and the facial makeup must have taken hours.  Some of the dancing was questionable (kitties can be quite risque at times), but overall it was a fantastic show unique to iteslf in many ways.  I would recommend this show to anyone 12 and older; perhaps younger.  Frazier could probably see it, and he's 10.

Before you see the play, read T.S. Eliot's An Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.  That's the poem the play is based on.  They sing the book's poems!  It's great!  Go see it!!