Oliver

I wanted something different, so I dragged the kids, kicking and groaning, to see Oliver at Beaverton High School last night.

(Kicking and groaning - too flip. Delaying and moaning. I got up from dinner and cruelly announced we would be leaving in two minutes whether they were done or not, and went upstairs to change. Andrew's lament followed us upstairs: "You mean I ate all these soybeans for nothing!" He had amassed quite a pile of empty husks. Mali is the queen of delay or disappear. She began industriously delaying before dinner even started, taking forever finding condiments - honey that would pour - before even starting her dinner. Honey (really!) being the crucial ingredient in her secret sauce of tartar and ketchup, used for french fries and fish sticks.)

It was probably fairly typical of large High School plays: Their new sound system was good, but it was work to hear/understand the dialogue. A couple of the singers were very good. Oliver and The Artful Dodger were played by girls. Fagin (Aidan Beers) was my favorite, both acting and singing, and the girl playing Nancy had fun beautifully singing what seemed like every other song. I think because so many of the other numbers were forgettable. (Wow, I could be a mean critic.) Actually, I think it was very good for a high school show. The girl playing Oliver had a decent enough voice, but she disappeared on the stage, and the Dodger was barely there too. Fagin was great though.
The house was full for the final night. The parents, grandparents, teachers, and students in the audience were very enthusiastic. Andrew and Mali's reaction was mixed. They liked some of it, but it was long - Two and a half hours. There was candy and popcorn for sale before and during intermission, but it was not allowed in the theater. I'm sure that would have helped. Still, why can't the show be enough? They would have rather stayed home and watched TV. Stuffing experiences into children never seems to work out at the time. I remember reading across the country, and the billboard that announced we were in Gettysburg. We'll see what they remember five years from now.