I submitted this essay to the On Being Jewish Now substack and for some unknown reason, they are not planning to publish it. Since it doesn't belong to them anymore, I am sharing it here, as I still want to put my Jewish joy experience out there. Just to show there are no hard feelings, I linked to the substack so that you can see other posts people have written and so that many more Jewish voices will be heard. For more Jewish Joy, check out the post at my Bookstagram from this past December.
This past summer, my husband and I went to an Orthodox wedding. We are Modern Orthodox and have been to weddings like this in the past, but this time it felt different.
The kallah (bride) was the daughter of a family from our shul and her brother is close with my older son. I don’t really have any connection with her one way or the other, but I was really happy for her family. What I was not expecting was to cry at this wedding. Multiple times.
I cried when I first saw the kallah, while she was sitting in what looked to be the shul’s social hall, with her mom and soon-to-be mother-in-law while waiting for her chatan (groom) to arrive. She was so beautiful and glowing with excitement. In contrast to the black skirt I wore with a black top adorned with a beaded purple flower, she was wearing a stunning white, long-sleeved bridal gown trimmed with lace and shimmery beads. Everyone was standing in a crowd to give her and her family good wishes. In the meantime, there were buffet lines of delicious Kosher meat items, such as ribs, chicken dumplings, steak, etc. This was well before dinner, but the appetizers were incredible.
I cried during the badeken, when the chatan entered with all the other men to look at the kallah before covering her face with the veil. (This is a ritual that came about after Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah instead of Rachel.) There was just so much ruach (excitement) and I am even getting teary-eyed again just thinking about it as I am writing this! It was a combination of the music, the men singing traditional Jewish wedding tunes in unison as they danced the chatan into the room, and even the memories of my own badeken over twenty years ago. (I recall laughing from joy at that time, while watching the men dancing my husband over to where I was sitting between my mom and mother-in-law, so that he could see me before lowering my veil.)
Here are some photos from our badeken. My late father-in-law is on my husband's right side and my dad is on the left, in the first picture. My mother-in-law is blessing my husband in the third picture.)
I cried during the ceremony, seeing the bride walk down the aisle and witnessing all the rituals that took place during that time, such as the kallah walking around the chatan seven times, a variety of family members and friends saying the sheva brachos (seven blessings), and the reading of the ketubah, amongst other standard wedding procedures. The chuppah was covered at the top and on the sides with pink and white flowers and some more traditional wedding music was being played by a small orchestra of string instruments as everyone walked down the aisle. The ceremony felt more spiritual and moving than it normally does at any given wedding. I was watching two people at the very start of their new life together during a tumultuous year, and seeing everyone rally around them.
I cried when everyone was dancing, women separate from men. Everyone was just so happy and lighthearted and we were all coming together for this simcha. There was so much love for the bride from her friends and it was just so beautiful to see. They were all treating her like royalty and celebrating her with so much ruach. I felt at that moment that I didn’t need to be close to the bride to be cheering her on and I didn’t need to personally know the women I was holding hands with while dancing in a circle. I need to preface this by saying that I normally don’t like dancing at simchas and didn’t even offer the opportunity for dancing at my son’s and daughter’s Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. I just feel awkward when I’m dancing in a circle repeatedly at simchas. (I prefer events where my husband and I can dance together however we want.) I wasn’t even planning to dance at this wedding, but then the excitement just moved me to do so.
I cried because it was almost eight months since October 7th, but I was amongst a huge group of Jewish people who were there to experience joy and to show that this can not be taken away from us. We are strong. We are a community. We still care for one another. We still celebrate by wishing each other Mazel Tov, even if it’s not our wedding and we’re not related to anyone in the wedding party. We will continue to have simchas.We will continue to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We will prevail no matter what!
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I first learned about Company in high school musical theater class over 30 years ago. (Yes, I know I'm old!) I listened to the music often to get familiar with it for class and a lot of it was quirky and entertaining. After high school, I didn't give it much thought for a while. Then my husband and I ended up seeing a revival on Broadway in 2006, starring Raul Esparza. It kind of felt more like a concert as I don't remember there being much of a set on stage. Raul was great as Bobby though. More recently, there has been another revival on Broadway, this time with most of the roles gender swapped, as Bobby was now Bobbie and played by Katrina Lenk. It sounded like a fun twist on the story and I was interested in seeing it. So when it came to DC, starring Britney Coleman as Bobbie, I knew I had to see it! I saw Britney as Barbara in Beetlejuice last year and she was delightful! I also knew that a gay couple was playing Paul and Amy (now Jamie), which added to the appeal.
To get a feel for the songs from this new version of Company, check out the Tiny Desk Concert.
My older son and I went to Kennedy Center at the end of March for the touring production. We ended up having front row seats, even though it was row E. Apparently the rows start at E. So that was pretty cool. We were a bit off to the side, but it wasn't an obstructed view. We could actually see some of the sets coming out from the side of the stage. Speaking of sets, they were really fun and modern! I love how the number 35 was incorporated in the artwork, house numbers, etc. They also played with the size of the rooms, sometimes making them look smaller than normal. I also like how they would connect at times and people would enter spaces from different doors.
Let's talk about the cast/characters now. I'm pretty much sharing a random bunch of thoughts here, as my mind is all over the place.
I loved Britney Coleman as Bobbie! She was perfect for the part and had such an incredible voice. I love her personality too. It looked like she was having so much fun!
Judy McLane played Joanne in a more contemporary way than I've ever seen before. I always expect Joanne to be cranky and sardonic, from what I've seen and heard in the past. This Joanne seemed like she was having a great time. She reminded me a bit of Jane Krakowski too.
I adored Matt Rodin as Jamie! "Not Getting Married" is one of the hardest songs ever, but he nailed it! He was just so great in the role too. That whole scene in the kitchen was great, especially with the priest showing up in random places and belting her part. Hilarious!
I also really liked Tyler Hardwick as PJ. He seemed like the kind of guy I would have gone for in college. He just gave off so much sexual appeal. I didn't get why Bobbie would go out with Andy (the pilot) when she could be with PJ, regardless of how he compared people's butt hole sizes. She didn't even have anything to talk about with Andy and it sounded like he was in some relationship with his roommate anyway. But I love how PJ sang "Another Hundred People."
The women in the show gave standout performances. They were all funny with high energy throughout. However, there were not a lot of opportunities for women (aside from Bobbie and Joanne) to sing in this production. "Sorry Grateful" is already intended for men to sing, but now they took over a bunch of other songs too. (Although "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" was enjoyable to watch.) I also think some characters swapped their storylines while others didn't. Like I know Jenny was the one who tried out swearing in the original production, but David was doing it this time. However, Sarah was still the one obsessing over food and showing people her martial arts skills.
As for the music, I knew most of the songs from back in the day. I still feel like "Marry Me a Little" was added later on, as I don't remember listening to it when I was in high school. I felt like they were able to jazz up some of the songs a bit more this time around, giving them high energy. "Side by Side by Side"/"What Would We Do Without You" felt extra long to me this time around. I think "Another Hundred People" is still my favorite, but I'll get some of the other songs in my head from time to time. I never really got how "Ladies Who Lunch" fits into the show or why one would want to make a toast to them. (I could probably say the same for "Another Hundred People" though.)
I can't say I'm a fan of the storyline for this musical, because it's hard to tell what is happening and when. There's nothing linear about it and it feels abstract overall. It's always been this way. The clock scene with all the different versions of Bobbie was new to me. I don't remember seeing that in the 2006 version. That part was amusing and also thought provoking. I also felt like if it was being adapted to modern times, they could have removed the dialogue about Bobbie's life not being complete without marriage. That seemed pretty antiquated with how things are now. Especially if you think about that one tone deaf graduation speech that recently made news stories. If you meet someone you're meant to be with, then great. However, marriage shouldn't have to be an expectation or norm in this day and age.
In any case, this revival of Company is a lot of fun overall, with many laugh-out-loud moments throughout. The camaraderie between the cast is evident and enjoyable to watch. But if you want to know what's going on, it's best to read about the storyline in advance. Even then, it's all a bit disjointed. ("A series of disconnected vignettes in no chronological order, each featuring Robert visiting with one of the couples or alone on a date with a girlfriend."--Wikipedia, on the original production.)
"And that's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's really about."
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I had been looking for a new show to watch, and had heard good things about Sweet Magnolias, so I decided to check it out. From the little I knew of it, I felt like it would be something fans of Virgin River could enjoy, since it's also based off a romance novel series, and it's about a cozy small town. Needless to say, I was hooked right away and binge-watched all three seasons over a few weeks. I also got my friend interested and she binged even faster than I did. We had fun discussing all the episodes! I know season four is in production, but I miss Serenity so much right now!
Side note: I watched the show in February and it has taken me until now to post a blog about it. I've just been very slow about blogging lately, but it was worth finishing this post up to share my love for Sweet Magnolias.
I was familiar with two of the lead actresses but hadn't seen Brooke Elliot in anything before. I know she's on Drop Dead Diva, but I never watched that series. (Something I need to remedy!) I had seen Joanna Garcia Swisher in a lot of shows, starting with Freaks and Geeks in the early 2000s. Joanna reminds me of my sister on this show, mostly in physical appearance, so it was interesting to see that she's only four days younger than my sister. I was so pleasantly surprised to see that Heather Headley rounded out the group of three. I saw her in Aida back in 1999 and she was incredible. She still has such a beautiful speaking and singing voice and I love listening to her on this show.
For those of you not familiar with Sweet Magnolias, it centers around a group of three friends: Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Elliot), and Helen (Headley). Maddie and Dana Sue are divorced, single moms. Their kids are close, as well. Helen is a lawyer who is single and doesn't have any kids. The three of them grew up together and have shared all of life's ups and downs. The story opens on a meeting between Maddie, her ex-husband Bill, and their lawyers (Helen is Maddie's lawyer, of course). Bill is played by none other than Chris Klein, from the American Pie series. (He was the wholesome guy who liked Mena Suvari's character.) Then the women meet up with Dana Sue, who proposes they open a spa together in a home that a very reputable older woman sold to them. The story takes off from there, and it's full of friendship, drama, romance, spirituality, etc. Speaking of spirituality, there's a lot of focus on church and prayer, but it's not preachy. I actually appreciate when people are comfortable in their faith and don't use it to judge others. There's a similarity to Schitt's Creek in that no one gets judged for who they love. While there is some cattiness, along with mean-spirited characters, I'm still happy that the gay couple on the show is looking into adoption and no one bats an eyelash.
Another fun side note: Jamie Lynn Spears plays Noreen, the woman Bill left Maddie for, after he got Noreen pregnant. I saw her perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 2017 and totally forgot about it until just recently.
A lot of focus on this show is centered on the teenagers. There's Maddie's two sons, Ty and Kyle, and Dana Sue's daughter, Annie. There's just a lot of teen angst, more drama, some romance, etc. Other teens have small storylines, as well.
Then there are the people who are friends or colleagues with the three women and have their own storylines and drama. This includes some romantic partners, as well. So the series balances out all the storylines throughout each season. I can tell you that Isaac and Erik are some of my favorite supporting characters.
I feel like I can relate to all three women in different ways. Maddie has three kids, two boys and a girl, just like I do. While her sons are close in age to mine, her daughter is a lot younger than my daughter. However, it's interesting that her younger two kids share a first initial, just like my younger two. (Theirs are K and my kids' are M.) I also like to try to help people and fix things, which is very much a Maddie thing to do. I am similar to Dana Sue in terms of not liking to delegate or ask for help, even if I need it. I am like Helen in terms of how much I care about other people, especially my closest friends.
Helen, Dana Sue, and Maddie, courtesy of Cinema Blend
I really love how this show celebrates and treasures friendship. It makes me want to have margarita nights with my friends, where we can just vent and support each other. I mostly do that virtually, other than meeting with some friends for lunch every so often.
If you'd like to know more, watch the trailer for season one. If you've seen all three seasons, stick around after the trailer for my thoughts with spoilers.
Spoilers below...
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Where to begin? So much has happened in three seasons. There are so many characters and situations going on and I'm sure I probably lost track of something. I think I've said all I really can say on the main three women above. I will point out some little things here and there, but I love Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen and care about what happens to/for each of them. I hated when they got into a fight in season three and am glad they were able to mend that and become close again. It felt wrong for them not to be able to talk with each other.
Here are some of my thoughts on the various characters and situations (connected to the characters) on the series.
The Men:
Bill: He definitely rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning. Like he cheated on Maddie and got another woman pregnant, and then he wanted to also get the house in the divorce settlement. So yeah, not a great first impression. However, I'm glad he received his karma with Noreen leaving him. I will admit that it's nice to see that he's trying to make things better for Maddie and his kids. And I don't blame him for anything regarding Isaac, considering he didn't know about him until just recently. I just don't think his Southern accent is all that genuine. It sounds kind of forced.
Cal: I was reading The True Love Experiment when I started this show and one of the male archetypes was a "cinnamon roll." That description is Cal in a nutshell! It's impossible to NOT adore him. And it's easy to be jealous of Maddie as a result. I was startled when he revealed his anger issues, especially when he showed a different side of himself after his team lost a game. (I think that was what happened.) It was also upsetting when he punched the guy at the restaurant, even though he was acting out of protection for himself and others. I was glad to see that he was trying to get to a better place for his anger issues and that he patched things up with Maddie. Now he just needs a haircut...
Ronnie: I wasn't sure if I wanted to trust Ronnie at first. Especially since it took for-ev-er to find out what he did to make Dana Sue so angry. I'm glad he was willing to go the distance in his marriage and to prove that he was worthy of Dana Sue again. He is attractive too.
Erik: He's my favorite of all the men on the show, but I wish he didn't get so hot headed over Helen's situation with Ryan and just gave her the time to make her own decision instead of bowing out completely and not talking to her. I really, really, REALLY want him to get back together with Helen though. Genevieve is pretty and all, but she's not the right fit for him. And you know he still has eyes for Helen no matter what he says to the contrary. I also love that he's just a genuinely good person and also a great baker and chef.
Ryan: Don't even get me started. I was soooo tempted to put him in the villains section of this post. I can't believe he had the nerve to worm his way back into Helen's life and then up and leave when things didn't go the way he wanted. I was hoping I could reach into the screen and smack him so hard. UGH!!!!
The Teens:
Ty: All I can say is that I'm glad that the actor who plays Ty is in his twenties so I don't feel like I'm breaking some law by crushing on him. I still feel like a cougar though! In terms of Ty as a character, just hope he can figure things out for his life and also make things right with Annie so that they can finally be together as a couple.
Kyle: Kyle seems like a nice kid overall and reminds me of my younger son in some ways. I felt bad for him when he got injured in the car accident, even though it was his own doing. It was also frustrating to see him so mad at everyone and not saying why. I'm glad he found his way back to himself and also found someone who likes him.
Annie: Annie is complex, but I still can relate to her angst in some ways. I felt so bad for her when the message she sent to Ty got sent to everyone else. I don't even know how she could forgive Jackson for doing that, let alone enough to like him. I'm glad that Annie is strong in what she feels is right and wrong and that she's willing to speak up for her own needs. It will be interesting to see where life takes her.
Cece: It was nice to see how much Cece grew up and changed over a short period of time. I love her connection with Helen and how they live and work together now. I'm also glad she stood up for her needs when she felt like Ty was neglecting their relationship.
Jackson: I went from hating him to sort of liking him to just being really annoyed with him. I'm glad Annie broke up with him for not standing up for their relationship and always doing what his evil mom wants, even though she bullies him too.
Family and Friends:
Paula: At first I wasn't sure if I'd like Paula. Like I felt she was overbearing. However, she grew on me and I thought she was really sweet and a wonderful, supportive mother. She even reminds me of a friend I connected with over the past year. Especially with the way she smiles and her sunny disposition.
Trotter: Is it me or does he look like Santino Fontana in some ways? In any case, Trotter has been wonderful and lovable from the beginning and I hope his journey to fatherhood will be focused on more in the next season. I only wish good things for Trotter!
Isaac: Isaac is one of my favorite supporting characters. I was worried he would just be in the background, so I was thrilled when he got his own storyline and I love his friendship with Noreen. He's just a genuinely good person and I hope to see even more of him in season four. I'd love for him to find someone to love, but I don't know where he stands on relationships and don't want to push that on him if that's not his thing.
Noreen: I actually liked Noreen from the beginning. Even though she was a homewrecker, I felt like this was something thrust upon her and I appreciate that she was trying to get on Maddie's good side. I'm glad the women warmed to her. I also love that she stood up to Bill and made a life for herself and her baby.
Peggy: I first thought Peggy was Mary Vaughn's sidekick and I didn't like her much. However, she's changed a lot and I love that she ended up being Isaac's birth mother. I also love that she is trying to have a connection with Isaac, even if it's not the standard mother-son relationship just yet. And I'm excited for her to expose all the dirt on Mayor Lewis and his scandals.
Pastor June: I love that she gives out wisdom without being preachy and judgmental. I also appreciate her friendship with each of the main characters. She's just genuinely likable.
The Villains:
Mary Vaughn Lewis: I. Hate. Her. So. Much!!! She ranks up there with some of the worst TV series villains ever. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Terry Silver from Cobra Kai.) I yelled at the TV every time she opened her sanctimonious little mouth to harass Cal in some way. I really hope she gets the ultimate karma in season four. I don't normally use certain words to describe women, but it is warranted when it comes to the evil being that is Mary Vaughn Lewis.
Kathy: Kathy may have been a horrible and vindictive brat of an adult, but I'm glad she was able to see the error of her ways and try to make amends. I think Bill is actually good for her. I still don't trust her 100% but maybe she can find a way to earn that trust eventually. So she's nowhere near as bad as Mary Vaughn, at least.
I also don't like Cal's ex-girlfriend. I think her name is Victoria? I am glad Maddie put her in her place and that we only had to deal with her for part of an episode. She is rather pathetic anyway.
There you have it. Maybe I'll have more to say after I finish season four.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the characters, plotlines, etc.
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I realize I didn't blog here a lot this year, and when I did, it was about pop culture. I also realize my last post was in September. I've been mostly sharing about stuff on Facebook and Instagram these days. I haven't even posted about my trip to NYC this past summer. It's been that kind of year, I suppose...
New TV shows that I enjoyed in 2023 (in no particular order):
Quiz Lady: Really cute and funny story about two sisters trying to save their dog. I highly recommend it.
Runners up:
Barbie: It was good but not something I want to see more than once.
Wish: I enjoyed it, but I still felt like something was missing.
Elemental: For all the great artistry, I found the story lacking.
Side note: I don't see a lot of movies so the ones that are currently popular have not made this list as a result of just not seeing them yet.
Top 10 Books I read this year:
See my top five picks at Chick Lit Central, as well! I read so many amazing books this year (go to my Goodreads page and see all the five-star books) and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. Links are to reviews.
I also got to see Ragtime again for the first time in 25 years. (Regional professional theater)
Spring Awakening (Saw at a small independent theater featuring high school students)
Avenue Q (Saw at the same theater as Spring Awakening, but featuring adults, including a teacher from my younger son's school)
My older son and I saw a musical about Audrey Hepburn, as well. It was interesting but went a bit long. (Small independent theater)
My family and I saw a production of Young Frankenstein. I was lukewarm on it but my younger son has been listening to the music ever since we saw it. (Community theater.)
There is more good theater in store for '24, including Company!
The NYC trip with my older son. (See above about the shows we saw.) I also loved going to Museum of Broadway.
Seeing my daughter in her camp shows this past summer. She owned the stage every time she was on.
Meeting Wade Rouse (a.k.a. Viola Shipman), Jean Meltzer, and Sara Goodman Confino. (Authors I adore!)
With Jean Meltzer
With Sara Goodman Confino
With Wade (R) and his husband Gary (L)
Pittsburgh trip with my family, which included getting to see "Will."
Seeing my older son in all his shows. He was especially amazing in his recent high school play, portraying a new role that no one had ever seen before and really making it his own. I also love how his improv troupe completely re-created a favorite experience from my 20s.
Visiting family in Chicago a couple times and seeing my nephew and some close friends.
The amazing besherte timing that allowed me to meet my best friend's baby shortly after he was born.
My younger son getting his learner's permit (that just happened though, so I have yet to experience his driving skills). He's also been really into astronomy lately and I love seeing how passionate he is about it.
Making some new friends this year: One was through a cousin and one was due to my love of Kimberly Akimbo.
Getting to see my sister-in-law this summer, even if it was only for a short period of time. I also enjoyed meeting her fiance.
Taking on some new responsibilities at work, including the newsletter, which I'm enjoying.
This is something I'm excited for, but dreading at the same time. Never mind that it will be 30 years since I graduated high school... (And no, I am NOT going to my reunion! Good thing I have no need to punish myself.)
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I first want to say how much I am really going to miss Riverdale now that it has ended. I initially watched it out of curiosity, but then I easily became obsessed and couldn't get enough of it. I know a lot of it was bizarre and farfetched, but I love it anyway. I got so emotionally invested in this series and would get so worried for the characters each week. I feel like there won't be any other teen shows like Riverdale going forward. It's truly one of a kind. I looked forward to watching it every week after I binged the first six seasons. I couldn't wait for it to come back after a long break, but season seven made it worth the wait, as you will soon see in this post...
All seven seasons are now available to binge on Netflix, if you haven't yet seen Riverdale and want to check it out.
Before you go on to reading this post, check out my previous two about Riverdale:
Also, I got to meet Casey Cott a few weeks ago! He was fabulous in Moulin Rouge on Broadway.
Read ahead for SPOILERS....
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As you know by now, season seven went into an entirely different direction from the previous six. It took place entirely in the 1950s and there wasn't anything all that supernatural going on, with the exception of Angel Tabitha trying to untangle all the time loops.
Overall, I liked season seven. A lot more than I was expecting to. Even with it being set in a different time period and no one remembering anything from before (except for Jughead, which only lasted for the first episode). It was definitely woke and I appreciated that. I also felt that it was incredibly relevant to everything going on in current times, especially when it comes to racism, homophobia, and censorship. I even liked some of the changes to the characters' personalities. Veronica seemed friendlier and more easygoing than before. Reggie wasn't as much of a bully. Cheryl started off as a mean girl but then mellowed out from that persona. Ethel seemed more confident, in general. Hal Cooper wasn't a murderer. You get my drift...
I like that they kept Cheryl and Kevin as LGBTQ characters. I love Clay as a match for Kevin. They were really sweet together. I am also glad Choni was a thing again.
I didn't get why they had to get rid of Jason and have Julian as Cheryl's brother this time around. He was such a jerk too. I totally forgot that Julian was the name of the creepy doll in the present time. It also seemed weird to have Evelyn back on the show as an actual teenager, since she was Edgar's wife who was posing as a teenager in the present.
There were definitely a bunch of villains this season, but they weren't as powerful as ones from the present. Nothing comes to being as awful as Percival Pickens, regardless of how menacing they tried to make the evil characters this season. I'm talking about Principal Featherbottom, Dr. Werthers, and Clifford Blossom. Alice Cooper was awful for most of the season, but I like that she finally came around to being a decent person. The evil stuff was more in relation to the relevancy to current times. All the censorship, homophobia, racism, etc. That was perperated by the evil characters big time. I also thought it was so creepy that Dr. Werthers was asking Betty about sex and then getting turned on by it.
I had a feeling the milkman was connected to the evil characters. One of my friends had thought it was Hal being a serial killer again, but I had a feeling the milkman was summoned by Featherbottom or Werthers. I didn't know that Clifford was the mastermind or what the connection was to the people he had sent him to kill. So that was at least surprising.
A lot of season seven reminded me of Spring Awakening. Especially everything going on with Betty. (There was also a Pleasantville feel to the season, especially a certain episode...) So it's too bad the season was set in the 1950s or they could have finally done that musical. Then again, they did some songs from Rocky Horror, which didn't come out until the 1970s...
It was nice that they could bring back people from the dead, but also bittersweet that they couldn't do that with Fred Andrews. They found a reasonable way to explain him being dead again though. Hiram was also not as evil this time around, even though he wasn't such a good husband or father.
Archie and Jughead's friendship was missing this season. They didn't really interact much, if at all. Meanwhile, Archie had a bromance going on with Reggie instead. I also wasn't feeling anything between Jughead and Veronica. Maybe I'm just too biased toward Bughead, but I thought even Ethel and Jughead had more chemistry.
I love that Veronica bought the Babylonium. It was such a cool movie theater. It reminded me of when I was in college and would go to this restored old movie theater to see indie films and classics.
I still think Jughead is hot. Even in fifties clothes with his hair combed back and a crown hat instead of a beanie. And even when he's saying stuff like "gosh," "golly," and "gee whiz" or something along those lines.
How did Archie and Betty get caught stripteasing in front of their windows? Like someone would have had to stand outside and look up into either window to see what was going on. Also, why didn't they lock their doors?
I hate to sound snobby, but I wasn't a fan of Archie's poetry. It was mostly rhymes and a lot of it was awkward. I wish his uncle hadn't ripped up the poem about his dad because that actually had substance. I don't even get why it made his uncle so mad. The worst was his poem about Ms. Grundy. Cringe!
I liked the whole situation with finding out that Betty and Ethel were half sisters. That was an interesting turn of events and it also explained a lot about why Alice was so difficult most of the season. I'm glad the truth finally came out and that it brought Alice and Betty closer as a result.
I loved Betty and Veronica's dynamic. I also enjoyed seeing them kiss. I know a Jarchie kiss wasn't going to happen because it was too hot, but Betty and Veronica were hot together too. The scene where they're about to kiss before Mary barged into the Pembroke was just full of anticipation and chemistry.
I like how Jughead and Ethel had their secret comic book sale at Pop's. I was so sad when they got caught and the comics got confiscated and burned.
The musical Kevin tried to put together was pretty good, so I was sad when they were told they had to do Oklahoma instead. I loved the song Betty and Veronica did together even though Kevin didn't write that one. The ones he wrote reminded me of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. (That show is perfect for anyone who liked season seven of Riverdale.)
It was nice to see some people come back who had been away for a while, like Josie, Polly, Ms. Grundy, and Mr. Weatherbee. It was even fun to see Hiram again, I will admit.
I didn't like how Veronica yelled at Kevin and Clay in the Josie episode. It wasn't their fault the film had broken. She didn't even apologize to them afterward, at least not that I can remember, but she just acted like it never happened.
I love how everyone was able to make fun of themselves after they all saw the videos of what life was like in the present. They had to have watched all six seasons, so how did they do it so fast? Either way, the one poem of Archie's that I liked was the one in the final episode that also made fun of things from the present. The best line was about the two Reggies. I was laughing so much from that. Especially after the meta moment in season six.
I was slightly disappointed that Angel Tabitha couldn't bring them all back to the present and felt like getting to watch the videos was a consolation prize. I am glad they had good lives going forward, but it's sad that they couldn't enjoy the present in the same way since they were so much older by then.
The final episode was well done, but bittersweet. It reminded me of Six Feet Under and Peggy Sue Got Married. Betty's farewell to Riverdale made me think of Goodnight Moon. I loved the quad! I know there has been some pushback against it, but it satisfied my need for Bughead to get back together and also for Betty and Veronica to get really close. I also liked that there was a lot of closure for the characters. It's sad that Fangs died so young though. At least he left behind a legacy, but still. I liked that Cheryl and Toni named their son Dale. ;)
I know this was all so random, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the final season!
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"When opportunity knocks. When possibility calls..." You get tickets to see Kimberly Akimbo and you get to enjoy every second of the experience! (Trust me, it will make your sh*tty life better. ;) )
I had been listening to the Original Broadway Cast recording of Kimberly Akimbo for most of this past year and have really gotten to know the songs well and enjoy them more and more with each listen. So I was really curious to see how they would play out on stage and what would actually happen in the story. I can tell you that listening to the music is not going to spoil anything because you're still going to be plenty surprised!
The show tells the story of a lonely teenage girl, Kimberly Levaco, who suffers from a condition similar to progeria that causes her to age rapidly, thereby giving her the appearance of an elderly woman, and how, according to Playbill, "[f]orced to maneuver family secrets, borderline personalities, and possible felony charges, Kim is determined to find happiness in a world where not even time is on her side." (Synopsis courtesy of Wikipedia.)
There's so much more to the story than the synopsis implies. It's full of many ups and downs, really funny moments, and some heartbreaking ones too. I loved it from the moment it started and walked out of the theater exhiliarated by the experience! We had almost the entire original cast, except for Victoria Clark, who normally plays Kimberly. In her place, we had Colleen Fitzpatrick, who did a marvelous job in the lead role. My main goal was to see Bonnie Milligan play Debra and I got my wish. She was even better than I was expecting her to be and I had high expectations. She definitely earned that Tony! Justin Cooley also delivered as Seth and was even more awkward than he sounds just from the songs. I loved him for that. Everyone in this intimately sized cast was amazing though. I loved the four teenagers and all their interactions with each other. The best part is when Debra calls them out on it, but that's all I will say...
On the side doors, they have pictures and descriptions of all the teenagers, including Kimberly, of course!
The set was really well put together. It would shift smoothly between a house (as well as the basement of the house), a school, and an ice rink. The costume changes happened on stage sometimes. Kimberly would wear a robe over her clothes to go to bed and then would take the robe off in the morning to reveal her outfit. I liked the costumes a lot too. They were simple but they gave off the feel for the time period.
As I mentioned before, it was cool to see how some of the songs played out on stage. Especially with the context behind them. This was especially true for "This Time," "How to Wash a Check," "Our Disease," and "The Inevitable Turn." (The latter is one of my favorites and seeing it performed made me love it even more than I already do.)
If you're looking for something new and different to see on Broadway, you've come to the right place! It should be touring in the next year or so; don't miss out if it comes to a city near you. Definitely a rewarding production in every way possible. If you want to get a feel for the music and see the camaraderie of the cast, check out the Tiny Desk Concert. (A different actor is playing Seth, but he's still good.)
After the show, we stage-doored and met almost all the cast. The only two who didn't come out were Colleen Fitzpatrick (Kimberly) and Nina White (Teresa). Everyone was so nice too!
Olivia Elease Hardy (Delia)
Fernell Hogan II (Martin)
Steven Boyer (Buddy, Kimberly's dad)
Alli Mauzey (Pattie, Kimberly's mom)
Justin Cooley (Seth)
Bonnie Milligan (Debra, Kimberly's aunt)
Michael Iskander (Aaron)
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