You can dress us up..............

This past Saturday, Ignacio and I had tickets (part of our subscription) to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  We went to dinner at Tamarind, a local spot that serves many different types of Asian food.  I had sushi, and Ignacio had sesame chicken.  A dish he has loved since my friend, Don, left Ignacio leftovers years ago.

After dinner, we went to the fancy chocolate shop in our neighborhood, Canady Le Chocolatier.  We love this place and the owner, Michael, is such a gentleman.  After picking up a few chocolates, we ventured to Caribou Coffee for some caffiene to keep me awake for the performance.  It's not that I don't enjoy the performances, I just ALWAYS have a hard time staying awake during live shows.

We walked to Symphony Center, and made our way up to the heavens for our seats.  Our seats are in the second to last row.  That means, we have to hike up six flights of stairs.  I always stop at the restroom after the fifth flight.  I sit there, sweating, and gasping for air like I've just run a marathon.  I compose myself, and walk the last flight to our seats.

The seats at Symphony Center are so cramped compared to the The Goodman Theater.  Because our seats are at such a steep pitch, it feels like my knees are on each side of the woman's head in front of me, right next to her ears. 

The show started, and I did well.  I was awake and alert, and enjoying the show.  It was getting close to intermission, and Ignacio had a look of panic on his face.  I guess his stomach was starting to reject his dinner.  He got up during the show, and went to the restroom.  I knew I wouldn't see him again until intermission, because they don't allow patrons to enter while the performance is in progress.

Intermission came, and I hear, "Nat! Nat!"  I look, and it is Ignacio with two Oranginas (yum!).  I went out to have a drink and Ignacio told me his story.....

He went to the restroom, and was doing his business, when he noticed a long hair on the ground.  He immediately started to try to peek through the door of the stall, looking for urinals to let him know he was in the right place.  Nope.  He popped up, and ran out of the WOMEN'S BATHROOM, and ran in the men's bathroom to finish up.

Yup, all dressed up, at Symphony Center, and sitting in the ladies room.  You can dress us up, but you can't take us anywhere.

Good Man

Last night, Ignacio and I went to see Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape at the Goodman Theater. Hughie is a two-person play starring Brian Dennehy and Joe Grifasi. Krapp's Last Tape is a one-man show with Brian Dennehy as Krapp.

We are subscribers to the Goodman.  Oh yes, we have a subscription to the Goodman Theater.  This is our second season as subscribers.  It's really pretty cool.  Chicago has so much to offer in the way of cultural happenings, and I am terrible of taking advantage of it.  Having a subscription to the Goodman is a good start.  A subscription package at the Goodman is really reasonable, and I enjoy seeing real live stars in the flesh.  I mean, Brian Dennehy for crying out loud.  Ignacio loves him, and that is probably why we got the subscription in the first place.  Mr. Dennehy seems like he is at the Goodman often.  And, we walk to the theater.  Doesn't get much better than that.

Sometimes, like last night, I'm not sure whether I should laugh or not.  The audience seems a bit more sophisticated and cerebral than I.  I mean, I'm sure they wouldn't be laughing til soda came out of their nose at one of my burp or fart jokes.  When I am at the movies, I have no problem laughing one of my rip roaring laughs, but in the theater, sometimes I have to think a little bit:  is this part supposed to be funny? 

One of the biggest problems I have with shows is falling asleep.  I am the queen of having something to munch on during movies, plays, and concerts so that I don't fall asleep.  [Which reminds me, I need to add a snack bag to my new car because for some reason, the Dan Ryan (I94) (which I thought was the DAMN Ryan when I was young) tends to put me to sleep when I am northbound on it.] 

Last night was no exception.  During the one-man show, I was struggling to stay awake.  Brian didn't speak that much, and there wasn't much action to hold my attention.  And, the problem with live theater, is that I am paranoid of driving the theater patron next to me nuts with chewing noises.  The theater is much more quiet than at the movies, and I am very self-conscious about my eating noises. 

Each time I go to the Goodman I am amazed by the stage set.  Hughie was set in a run-down hotel and as always, I was in awe of the set.  The floor, the fixtures, little details, the background noises from a passing train, not to mention the shadows cast on the walls from the headlights of passing cars.  I get sucked in every time. 

I enjoyed Hughie more than I did Krapp's Last Tape, but I love going to the Goodman and each time it's like a mini adventure.  I highly recommend a subscription.  That way you get to see every play for the season, and you don't miss out just because you never got around to purchasing tickets. 

Next week we go the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for our second show of the season.  Yup, we have a subcription to the CSO as well.  Damn, we are some cultured b!tches.