The Music of the Night

Kathy and I saw Broadway Across America's Phantom of the Opera last night at Bass. It was AMAZING. The costumes and set are a feast for the eyes- very textural and colorful and rich. Derrick Davis (the Phantom) has a deep, powerful, gorgeous voice. Holy moly. SO good. You can hear him sing "Music of the Night" on YouTube.

My only complaint about it was that everyone in the production called Raoul "Rowl" instead of "Rah-ool." What the...??

I thought I had seen it live before, but Jeff didn't think we had. As soon as I saw the giant chandelier (right over our heads thankyouverymuch) when we walked into the theater, I remembered it from before. I've definitely seen the musical on stage, but I'm not sure where or when that was. Once you get to a certain age and someone challenges your memory of something, you start second-guessing yourself. Ha!

Kathy and I had dinner at The Salty Sow for the first time. (East side!) It was verrrry good. The have all sorts of interesting drinks! We shared the charcuterie and a vegetable plate. Everything was very fresh and tasty. Well, except beets, which neither she nor I enjoy... anywhere. Duck liver pate IS my new favorite appetizer meat. Yummo. The menu said there was yeti on the charcuterie plate. Another moment where I said, "WAIT. Yeti? Isn't that a fake animal, like an abominable snowman?"

Kathy: Yes.

Well, okay then. Good thing it didn't show up on the plate.  Incidentally there does exist a yeti crab. It's adorable.

Saturday 9: Don't Sleep in the Subway (1967)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Subways can be bright and noisy. Do you need it dark and quiet before you can fall asleep?
Generally yes. At night, if it isn't dark and quiet, I'm awake. I can nap every once in a blue moon, when there's a boring movie on or a rainy day, or something like that.

2) In this song, Petula encourages her lover to talk it out instead of walking out. Do you usually remain reasonable during a disagreement?
Yes. And I definitely don't walk out. My parents used to argue like that, and at some point my dad would leave the room (or the house) right in the middle of it. They had a language barrier that really came into play when things got heated. Dad told me years later that he always felt like he "lost" arguments because his English wasn't as good as Mom's and he got flustered and couldn't express himself like he wanted to. I can see that. Still, not the way to argue. You may not resolve things at the end of an argument, but you at least have to close out the discussion before anyone just up and walks.

3) Petula was a child star in England during WWII. Her BBC broadcasts were very popular with the British troops, who nicknamed her The Singing Sweetheart. Soldiers pasted her photo onto their tanks for luck as they went into battle. Do you have any little rituals or good luck charms that calm/comfort you when you're afraid?
No. Maybe I should get some!

4) Now 84, she recently told London's Daily Mail that she's surprised and thrilled to have found love again with a new man. Do you believe you'll ever be too old for romance?
Nope!

5) Her family is far flung. She lives in London, her middle daughter is in Paris, her son is in Los Angeles and her oldest daughter lives in New York with Petula's two grandchildren. Who is your nearest friend or relative? Which one is farthest away?
Nearest friends are Scott-n-Julie. They live on our street, about a third of a mile away. The farthest is my brother Siegfried, who lives in Cologne, Germany, about 5200 miles away.

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, Rolling Stone published its first issue. John Lennon was on the cover. Publisher Jann Wenner reports that, either individually or as a group, the members of The Beatles have appeared on the most Rolling Stone covers. What's the first Beatles song that comes to mind?
"Eleanor Rigby"

7) In 1967, Star Trek was in its second season on NBC. Who is your favorite Star Trek character?
Bones McCoy

8) RANDOM QUESTION: When you slip into jeans or slacks, which foot do you put in first?
Right

9) As you considered #8, did you mime pulling on your pants?
No. I only imagined it in my head.