Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The Guantlet

Christmas was lazy and far from white--just the way I like it. The kids loved pretty much everything they got, including the pair of light sabers that I just had to open first.

My wife and I went to a production of A Christmas Carol, and I shant say where, to protect the innocent. It was a musical of all things, the music having been written by someone local. Ebenezer was an amazing actor but a poor, poor singer. Some of the music was so bad that I did my best not to laugh out loud.

There were a great many faith elements to the story I had never noticed before. Jesus was mentioned on several occasions, and God was credited for Ebenezer's eventual turnaround. Ebenezer sings praise to Jesus near the end, just before he wakes up and makes everything right with the people he has abused. The song was just awful, and reminded me of Elmer Fudd. So, I leaned over and sang lightly in my wife's ear, "Oh what have I done? I've killed the bunny waaaaabit." My wife cracked up, earning me a severe glance from the teenaged couple two rows up. I felt bad. It's a lot of work to put on such an elaborate production. I'm not a heckler, but sometimes the joke is there and I can't resist lighting it up.

Well, it turns out it was a church production. They wanted us to fill out a survey. Flyers were waved in my face from church representatives up the aisle and out the door, where the entire cast sang Christmas carols.

It felt like a cult, a gang plank, and a gauntlet. Still, it was very nice, just a little shocking.

The couple we went with, who invited us and bought the tickets, apologized profusely. They didn't know that would happen. No problem. It was, well, different--the spice of life. The next day, they called and asked if we would like to join the church with them. Just joking, she said laughing.

11 comments:

Jada's Gigi said...

sounds like a lovely Christmas, Ebeneezer and all...:) Happy New Year Scott...sorry bout the Monday nite game...lol...I know my household was cheering and yelling like banshees...lol

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas! Well, all said and done, it probably waasn't as bad as the version I went to see, which was good, but the smoke machine fogged up the whole theater and all the kids were coughing and sneezing and I had to use my inhaler! OMG!

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

There's nothing quite as toe-curlingly bad as having to sit through a poor production.

I feel sorry for the couple who invited you. They obviously thought it was as bad as you did!

Bernita said...

Hmmm, almost like a bait and switch.

Beth said...

I'm such a Dickens fan, I may have picketed so they lucked out with you! That's bizarre about using a play as a recruitment possibility though. I don't like those types of tactics. All kinds of red flags there!

Tee/Tracy said...

That sucks that the church was so agressive afterwards. They could have done it in a nicer way - just like on the back of the program write "Brought to you by so-and-so church" - and have their address and times of service. I think that would have been sufficient.

Anyway, I'm glad you kept your sense of humor about it.

Merry Christmas, Scott. Hope you and your family have a happy and healthy New Year.

Toni Anderson said...

It sounds nice :) Better than being accosted by two huge black-coated Mormons in the street who offered to follow me and my six year old daughter home???

Jenn Doll said...

I'm glad you had a good Christmas! I hope your New Year is just as good if not better!

Toni Anderson said...

Happy New Year for tonight!

Bailey Stewart said...

I'm with Bernita and Beth!

Um Toni? Were they good-looking? *gg*

I'm not talking about the game - too much disappointment. Too many of my words shoved back into my face.

Moni said...

Scott I'm so glad you had a wonderful Christmas. :) You know as far as the play goes; there are always strings attached to everything. hehehe But they didn't have to be so blatant.


"Kill da waaaabit!" Oh my goodness, I would have fell out in the floor with laughter.

Have a good one. :)