Pure Imagination

The Olney Central College stage has once again provided for a spring musical showcasing local talent, meeting public appeal, and allowing for some sweet sensationalism. If you know me, or follow thing blog at all you will know that I am a bit of a musical nerd. This year’s production of Willy Wonka has mixed two of my very favorite things; Children’s Literature and musical theatre. (I bet you didn’t know I was a children’s lit fan.)

I will begin by stating that I was not looking forward to this year’s choice. I have seen Willy Wonka on stage twice and I found it rather abysmal. But in the spirit of supporting the arts I reconciled my feelings with any theatre nerd’s mantra, “Well, at least it’ll sell tickets.” My two previous experiences were middle school productions, the second being an exclusively 5^th grade cast. I’m not about to criticize the young performers for their interpretation, or lack there of, but I left each production feeling cheated of the experience I had set myself up for. Sure it was pretty and colorful, and I guess that is all the grandparents in the audience expected. If you are considering doing Willy Wonka for your own youth musical please allow me to quote Wonka himself, “No. Stop. Don’t.” This show requires adults who have the ability to express satire and sarcasm.

In anticipation of Olney’s production of Willy Wonka I was already setting the bar quite low. But why? After all, if Broadway extravaganzas can be made of "The Lion King" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," then surely it could be done with "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," the slightly sinister and borderline psychedelic 1964 book/1971 movie about the misadventures of rude kids touring the wildest candy-making plant ever devised. Right?

Of course, right. I guess all it took was a mature cast to understand that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory had absolutely nothing to do with chocolate at all. Author Roald Dahl provided a classic good vs. evil story that used children as the villains. This was a highly criticized concept at the time of the books publication. A children’s book with children portraying the less than desirable qualities of life and morality…genius. There are also subtle overtones of predestination, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” and of course the power of positive thinking.

To our local cast I say, “Well done.” If I were to sum up our local production in one word it would be endearing. Nathan, Will, Neita, Keegan, Ivy, Austin, Bill and every member of the cast step on to the stage and disappear from their own lives and for just a few hours help create a better outlook on life. After all, there is no life I know to compare with pure imagination.

Wordless Wednesday: Scrumdiddlyumptious

Ours

Theirs

Come and see the Olney Central College production of Roald Dahl's
Willy Wonka!

March 25-28
Call 618-395-7777 for tickets

They Fly!!!

Really?

While I may not be the most fashion forward person, I do pride myself on my sense of style. (Even though some accuse me of dressing a bit older than I need) Recently I have come across a clothing ad that depicts something, well, odd. I have seen it in several magazine ads, on the internet, and even in large store displays. I just don't get it. It is always the same guy too! So, below is the picture. Have you ever noticed that he always has his tie tucked into his pants? Is this some fashion statement that people actually do?

"...and the pursuit of [anything you damn well want]

Maybe I am wrong, and perhaps you will not agree with me...but I do not believe that the framers of our Declaration of Independence intended for such a broad interpretation of the stated unalienable rights to include universal health care. Furthermore the Declaration of Independence is NOT a document that should be referenced or used in of legislation.

Now….in the spirit of trying to keep this a bipartisan and politics free blog…I will yield my time.

Wordless Wednesday: Doopadee Doo

Ours

Theirs

Come and see the Olney Central College production of Roald Dahl's
Willy Wonka!

March 19-21 & 25-28

They Fly!!!

Chiaroscuro

There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment who will you elect to be? Will you let down your defenses and find solace in someone unexpected? Will you reach out? Will you face your greatest fear bravely and move forward with faith? Or will you succumb to the darkness in your soul?

Wordless Wednesday: A l m o s t

Spring in the Forum

How Beautifully Blue the Sky

My job has provided for varied learning experiences. There are two topics that I never expected to learn so much about. The first topic would be anything related to agriculture. As people come and go from the building I find myself saying things like, “yes the corn does look good,” or “You’re kidding! His beans are still out!” The second topic is the weather. I hate talking about the weather. But on days like today it is certainly unavoidable. So…since I have done it all day I shall now blog about the weather:

How beautifully blue the sky,
The glass is rising very high,
Continue fine I hope it may,
And yet it rained but yesterday.
Tomorrow it may pour again
(I hear the country wants some rain),
Yet people say, I know not why,
That we shall have a warm July.
Tomorrow it may pour again
(I hear the country wants some rain),
Yet people say, I know not why,
That we shall have a warm July.
Tomorrow it may pour again....

A priest, a Rabbi, and a....

Well…what have you given up? For Lent that is. It seems that people use this season in the liturgical calendar to re-up their New Year’s resolution. Don’t get me wrong. I think it is fantastic that you have given up soft drinks in the name of the Lord, or you are cutting back on the amount of cream you put in your coffee, or you’ve decided to not drink at home…alone. But that is not the purpose of the season.

I was not able to attend the Ash Wednesday service at my church. But if it was anything like years past it included a section about “giving-up” something “for Lent.” This always baffled me. Why would God be involved with the amount of chocolate I consume? Unless it is flirting with the definition of gluttony, He isn’t concerned with it one bit.

Lent is a conception of the church born from the 325 CE Council of Nicea. To spare you from the history and politics of early Christianity, Lent was used as a sort of bargaining chip to lure people back to the church. The forty days represent the time that Jesus spent in the desert skirmishing temptation from Satin.

But why do we give up things for this pre-Easter season? And is it Biblical? The church decided to use this period of time to “allow the fallen” to return to good graces (with clergy) if they gave up whatever it was that caused them to leave (or be asked to leave) in the first place. We’re not talking about the little sins here. We’re talking about the big sins….murders, drunkards, the sexually immoral, and so on… There are variations of Lent in almost every sect and denomination within Christianity and the western church. But nearly all kick of Lent with a celebration that is basically your last hurrah. We know it as Mardi Gras or Carnival. If you want to get technical about your penance…Sundays are in Lent but not of Lent. Therefore it is perfectly acceptable to “give in” to whatever you gave up for Lent.

Modern churches that still participate in Lenten practices do so mostly out of tradition as it is no longer a requirement. Churches should urge people to give up something that is separating them from God and not allowing them to have the best possible relationship. If chocolate and soft drinks are hindering your relationship…then yes, please give them up.