"Back to the Future: The Musical"

Great Scott!!! I finally got to see Back to the Future on stage!

 

I had a blast. Basically, this is a show created by people who love the film for people who love the film, and that includes me.

 

The cast was terrific. I always wonder what it's like for a relatively unknown actor to have to take on an iconic role associated with a famous actor, but Caden Brauch was a terrific Marty McFly. He had the same youthful energy and excitement Michael J. Fox brought to the film role. Burke Swanson was a hilarious George McFly. When he came out at the end as the successful version of George, he looked almost identical to Crispin Glover in the film. Zan Berube had a terrific energy as Lorraine, and Don Stephenson was appropriately bonkers as Doc Brown. Ethan Rogers was a hilarious and imposing Biff Tannen (his bio in the program describes him as "much nicer in person" than Biff). The role of Goldie Wilson is beefed up in the show and Cartreze Tucker did a wonderful job, especially in one song where he really got to show off his amazing singing voice. And of course, it was a kick to see the DeLorean, kitted out as the unlikely time machine.

 

The songs are all original, except when "Johnny B. Goode" is performed at the dance, and at the end of the show, when the cast performs "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time". A lot of work goes into this show, and they use a lot of projection for locations and to give the DeLorean the appearance of speeding up to the crucial speed of 88 miles per hour. And yes, O'Reilly Auto Parts still lists the flux capacitor on their website. It was a total nostalgia fest for the 1980's, including era fashion and hair, as well as costumes duplicated from the original film.

I didn't get a picture of it when I was leaving (because I was driving), but there was a DeLorean in the parking garage with the license place TIMELESS (I can't remember the exact abbreviation as I passed it quickly). So cool.

Back to the Future: The Musical is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. It's playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts through January 5 before heading to San Diego and the rest of its North American tour.

 

Now I just need to find a real time machine so I can go back to the 80's and stay there.

Me: YES

 

Credit to Screenwriters Utopia on IG.

Christmas Words of Wisdom

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church, the Jews called it "Hanukkah" and went to synagogue, the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Hannukah!" or (to the atheists) "Look out for the wall!" (Dave Barry)

I wish we could put some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. (Harlan Miller)

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. (Agnes M. Pahro)

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. (Norman Vincent Peale)

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas. Don't clean it up too quickly. (Andy Rooney)

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through?

(Unknown)

In the face of seasoned waves of evil

That we would sing that old noel

That we would hang lights on branches

That we would give gifts to others

Even if that gift is only ourselves-

This, this is a defiance seemingly impotent

Against the principalities and powers who

Daily conspire to convince us that

We are alone and love is a lie.

But do not be deceived for the demons themselves

Tremble at such quaintness.

Sisters and Brothers, Christmas on.

(John Blase)

Works for me!!!

 

Slouching toward Christmas

It's been a pretty quiet month so far and I haven't been posting the usual Christmas stuff this year. No particular reason. Maybe next year. One thing that has been great around here is the weather. The past couple of years spring and even summer has been frequently overcast, but this month it's been bright and sunny around here. The kind of weather you'd expect during spring and summer but noooooo...

 

Although it looks like that's about to change. Maybe even some rain on Christmas Eve!

 

 

Anyhoo, Merry Christmas from the beautiful beach!

 

Christmas with Joan and the kids

Gotta wonder what Christmas was really like in that house. So scripted, plus I would have loved to have heard the kids address her as "Mommie Dearest." 

Days of Christmas

Ya think?

December is finally here!

I'm one of those people who, at the end of the year, can't start on one holiday until the other has passed. As far as I'm concerned, it's still summer through the end of September. Then on October 1, fall has officially arrived and I go from sunny summer vibe to autumn vibe. The fact that we're at the tail end of Daylight Saving Time becomes more and more apparent, until the time change in November and it's dark around 5pm. I always find the return to Standard Time to be kind of depressing, so it's nice to have the holidays as a distraction.

So on October 1 I bust out the autumn decorations, pick up some mini punkins, and that's pretty much the decor for October and November. I have a few Halloween decorations that are brought out, but I don't do a lot of full-on decorating until Christmas. Which for me doesn't start until we get through October and November.

So first I have to get through Halloween. Once that's over, the focus is on Thanksgiving. Even with all the Christmas stuff out in the stores I can't go there until we get through Thanksgiving. I can only do one holiday at a time.

 

But the day after Thanksgiving, I'm in full-on Christmas mode! Decorations, come on out! And also, the first Christmas blog post of the year: