In the Good Ole' Summertime

I am not a summer person. I do not tolerate the heat well, I hate chiggers and mosquitoes, and I really detest grasshoppers. Snakes come out when it is warm and they scare the pee out of me. I have enough hair on my head for three people and I have said for years I was obviously meant to live further north than Kansas with that kind of insulation.

It has been my contention for years that there are just a few things in life that make summer bearable. They are baseball, fresh vine-rippened tomatoes, vacations, and Music Theatre of Wichita.

Baseball has definitely lost its glitter. None of the teams I like are peforming at a professional level. Although I don't think steriod use is a matter for Congress to waste its time on, I do think it has really spoiled the game, for me anyway.

Vine-rippened tomatoes from our own garden have been hard to come by lately. They have drowned out the last few years. Fortunately Bob and Jana grow enough for the whole city, so we do still get to enjoy them.

Since Harry retired from Boeing and went to work for Spirit (not necessarily a voluntary decision), he has been unable to get a handle on how much vacation time he has, so vacations have almost become a thing of the past also.

This bring us to the one remaining summer bright spot - Music Theatre. I am a late-comer. It has been around 35 years and, although I attended my first show in the early 1990's, I have not become a real affacianado until the last few years. I discovered that I really love live theatre.

Saturday night Harry and I went to "The Full Monty". I wanted to see it but I have to admit that I was a little anxious also. The idea of full frontal nudity is not an attraction to me, but I had listened to the sound track and knew just enough about the story (I have not seen the movie) to know I wanted to go. GOOD IDEA! I loved it. The nudity part was so minor and so not visible that it was really a non-factor.

I will have to admit that this play would not be for everyone. The subject matter pretty much dictates some rough language and portions some would find objectionable. But I found it to be so funny and entertaining. I did not realize it was a 2 hour and 45 minute show until we got back in the car after it was over and I saw the time. I laughed and laughed and laughed. And I have been listening to the CD of the soundtrack ever since. So my recommendation is if you get a chance, go see "The Full Monty". Unless you are easily offended. Then go see "The Sound of Music". There is something for everyone in the theatre.