Catch-up: Porgy Debacle and Flashdance Surprise

Time to catch up on some show reviews and life news.

Missie and I went to see Porgy and Bess at Playhouse Square in Cleveland on Saturday, February 8. First, we stopped for brunch and beverages at Town Hall in Ohio City. I had a couple of gift cards I received from my co-worker Mark for Christmas, so we thought we would give it a try. The food was excellent, the drinks delicious and the atmosphere funky and fun. If it wasn't so far from Playhouse Square, I could easily see Town Hall becoming our new pre-show routine, replacing the late, lamented Bricco.

On the drive up to Cleveland, I gave Missie some preparation for seeing Porgy & Bess. I explained that it was an American opera, written by the Gershwins in the Gullah dialect, a blend of Creole and English used in some parts of the American South. I warned her that it is not a "feel good" show and pretty much no one gets a happy ending.

When we got to the theater and settled into our seats, Missie said that because it was fairly warm (for a change) that when we made our usual "shots and potty" run to Parnell's, she was going to leave her coat in her seat. I agreed it was a good idea.

The show started and I fell into my usual spell of becoming enthralled in the production and shutting out my surroundings. I have seen other productions of Porgy & Bess, so I knew the music and found myself comparing the Paulus adaptation to those other stagings. Summertime was appropriately haunting and beautiful. Finally, intermission arrived and I felt pretty good about the show.

As I got out of my seat and headed into the aisle, Missie called after me, shouting, "Tim, don't you want your coat? You want your coat!" I was confused, based on our previous conversation. I learned the reason for the turnabout as soon as we got outside the theater.

"I'm not going back. You can if you want to, But I don't like it," Missie declared.

"Okay, I'm not going back to see the rest by myself," I responded. "What didn't you like?"

"The way they sing in that operatic voice, especially the women. The register of their voices is so high it hurts my head. Also, you know I can't stand it when people don't use correct grammar. The language was driving me crazy."

I passed on the opportunity to remind her that I had explained both of these things before the show. I could see the writing on the wall. At the time, I just didn't know how large that writing was written.

Missie has been generally discontent about Playhouse Square since Bricco closed and we had trouble finding another spot within walking distance of the theaters to have lunch and drinks. But until this show, she seemed at least to generally enjoy the shows. Wicked, for example, had been a new favorite for her. she was traveling a lot for her new sales position and although she was generally home on weekends, her love for the theater seemed to be diminishing. Hell, at one time we discussed renting an apartment in the district to have a weekend retreat for theater-going! Now it seemed to be an annoyance.

Missie told me she would be unable to attend the next two shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Flashdance. She offered me the tickets. I ended up giving my nephew, Andrew, the tickets for his birthday. (He reported enjoying the show with his wife Marissa.)

I originally intended to give the Flashdance tickets to my friends Duane and Tim, avid musical theater buffs. But at the last minute, Tim was unable to attend, so Duane and I went instead.

I was expecting the show to be a campy remake of the cheesy 80's movie in the style of Xanadu. Instead, it was an intense, straightforward adaptation and performed beautifully by the cast. The musical numbers were flawless and the acting was superb. Duane and I both went away thoroughly impressed.

It was around this time that I got an e-mail from Missie saying that because of her travel she was voting not to renew our package for the next Broadway season. I was devastated. I can't afford the complete package by myself and I don't have a regular theater partner with whom to share the cost. I responded that since the tickets were in her name, her vote was really the only one that counted. In response, she said she would transfer the package to me if I wanted. I told her that thanks, it was a nice idea, but that I couldn't afford both the donation $300 that got us Inner Circle seating and the $1,000+ tickets for two.

It is the end of an era.