To The Nines

Last Saturday, my sweetie took me to see the play White Christmas. I love going to events at Detroit's Fox Theater. Years ago, this place had fallen into disrepair. A painstaking restoration brought this icon back to its former glory. You can look at this theater for days and still not take in everything. Every square inch is filled with something remarkably beautiful. It really is quite stunning and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. Let me say here though, for this play, I've never had better seats. We were in the first row-orchestra pit. How fun!

I saw Yes here about 8 or so years ago and the music was beautiful in this venue. I've heard the Detroit Symphony play here too and that was equally lovely. This was perfect for listening to an orchestra play the music of Irving Berlin-they were fabulous and a lot of fun to watch up close. Just a bunch of regular Joes (and Joans) working the night away.

White Christmas was good, but just not the same without my favorite players. The story line drifted a bit and that didn't really jive with the movie version that I know and love best. I think what was missing was the love that was brewing between the couples. I just didn't feel it during the play. I've seen enough stage plays to know that love can be conveyed in a live performance. The dancing was amazing and so was the singing so I can't say that was the issue. A lack of feeling was.

David Ogden Stiers from MASH fame played the general. He has a great stage presence. It's almost as if he is much better suited to the stage than to the small screen or film. All in all, it was a nice evening out and fun to see that people still get dressed to the nines for a night on the town. Still, I think I'll be watching the movie version of White Christmas for my annual nostalgic fix.

Photos: Google Images-like a fool, I left my camera at home.