Everyone’s life has little mysteries, you know? Small events
and oversights that never quite make sense when you look at the whole picture.
Here’s one of mine: I didn’t see Newsies
until eight years after it was released. More than that, I’d never even heard
of it until 2000.
It’s totally baffling. An avowed lover of musicals from the
first time I saw Wizard of Oz. A big fan of Disney movies. How, in the name of all things
good and holy, did this film slip through the cracks?
To be honest, it’s a little embarrassing.
Thankfully, though, this is why I got my parents to give me
that little sister I wanted. So, that she could inform me of any possible
oversights I was making in life. Sure, it took her a little longer than it should have,
but I’ll cut her some slack. She was only four when the movie came out. And she
did eventually rectify the problem.
She came to me whilst I was sitting in my parents’ bed (their room had a TV) with some kind of ailment I can’t remember (I do remember that I was
watching the season one Buffy episode
“The Pack” though, so clearly my memory has its priorities straight). Holding
the movie in her hands, she told me that she’d just seen it at a friend’s and
immediately borrowed it because she knew I would love it. She threw that bad
boy in the VCR and climbed up next to me, risking whatever germs (probably
extraterrestrial) that were infecting me.
Those fellas started singing about their days carrying the
banner and I thought, You know what? It’s
true. This is what has been missing
from my life.
In addition to enriching my existence, however, this film led to a continuing battle against
my urge to yell, “Soak ‘em for Crutchie!” at inopportune times.*
Last week, thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, the fam
got to go see the Newsies flying across the Nederlander stage. I sat next to
the sis and we were both beside ourselves excitement wise. Our fourteen and
eleven-year-old selves were in rare form. The sis blanked for a second while
she was singing “Carrying the Banner” and ended up singing it to the tune of “Gary, Indiana.”
Which, in addition to being a great musical nerd moment, actually fit pretty
well. Seriously, try it.
Then the show started and it was pretty much magic from
start to finish. Some changes from the movie, which worked really well for the
show, but more on that tomorrow. Today, suffice it to say, I continue to be
baffled and amazed by people who can go from a standing position into an air
flip. I mean, how the hell does that happen??
*The biggest obstacle to my stifling this urge is the fact
that I don’t want to. Still haven’t figure out how to handle that.
I. Am. So. Jealous. I bought the Broadway soundtrack this summer in hopes that I would be prepared for the theatrical changes when I would get to see it on Broadway this summer, but we got tickets to Jersey Boys instead. Fabulous show, but not as nostalgic for me. Sigh. I am really looking forward to the deets coming tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Seize the day is a great song for the gym.
Seize the Day is also great for any moment of the day that you'd like to make better. =)
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