Dance at Home and Abroad

Tonight I went alone to see La Traviata -- no, not actually the opera, but a dance interpretation of the same. It was so stunningly like my home life that I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry, but it was definitely a "life meets art" evening for me. Every time they changed scenes, I recognized one or other of us.

So, to give you a rundown of how/when we are our very own dance troupe, let me give you some vignettes for your enjoyment.

1. The event started at least 20 minutes late. Herding Hooks is worse than herding cats.
2. While we were waiting the same 6 bars of the opera score were repeated. Over. And over. And over. In our house, we get that either when Michael's playing his video game or when we're setting up for the movie and the DVD is in and ready long before anyone's sitting down.
3. Opening to a lovely scene of everyone looking beautiful, quickly degenerating into gesticulations, running around, lying down on the floor, and kicking one's legs in the air.  Oh, and the backdrop? An aluminum-foil lookalike, very reminiscent to me of the time we ran out of plastic wrap and the children used foil for everything.
4. Frog kick...that's my Florence.
5. One person calmly moving about, all others in a circle watching and looking at each other open-mouthed and wondering. That's me cooking dinner while the others want to know what's being prepared.
6. Someone being dragged onto the stage by the armpits...James and Michael (you may guess which is who). Let's just say that James has the kicking action down pat.
7. Lying on the floor, legs and tush in the air. Thank you, Jeremy, for the hours of cultural enlightenment you have brought to my home (but he's usually on the sofa).
8. Girls wandering in and out agitatedly wearing a skirt but no top, much gesticulation. My daughters getting ready for a party, anyone?
9. Traces of gorgeous music now and again ... Eleanor practicing her singing.
10. Traces of familiar music that sounds as though it's been put into an echo chamber and greatly prolonged...Jeremy practicing cello.
11. Leg lifts, sit-ups, and other floor exercises...Ashley can be found doing this any time, say, she has Latin homework to do.
12. Dragging one's prone body (covered in a long satin sheet) along the floor. James with his green blanket.
13. Someone taking her (his, in our case) clothes off and having a major meltdown (based on the hand gestures) in the middle of the stage. Others walk in, take one look, and walk out without making their presence known to the main actor. Sounds about like James (or Jeremy, for that matter) at times.
14. Getting half-undressed and making shadow figures. Definitely James at bedtime.
15. Lifts...Eleanor and Florence have a charming routine in which Eleanor rides Florence "piggyback" with her legs around Florence's waist, but actually facing Florence. She then proceeds to do sit-ups. As good as any of the lifts I saw tonight.
16. Aimless milling about...the children when they're supposed to be laying the table.
17. Lying on the floor, still, while one member is running around frantically. Sometimes how I (I'm sure unfairly!) feel.
18. Taking shirts off and throwing them on the floor, then leaving the stage.

It's just a matter of time before we're playing in theatres worldwide ourselves.

Love,

Alexandra