One curmudgeon coming up!

Well it's official - I'm old. No, there is no getting around it. It has nothing to do with my pending birthday but instead it has to do with my outlook. I'm not depressed nor am I bothered by the number 4 repeated twice.

I wouldn't say that I'm bothered or angered more just disappointed. Let me explain.

I have been fortunate to experience several Broadway shows (on Broadway), others were touring groups with half the original Broadway casts, or others such as seeing Yul Brynner in "The King & I" before he died or Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly" one last time. I see this as a perk of being an only child (cost was not the issue it would have been in some families) and a big drama lover (some would say drama queen). I lament over days gone by. I was introduce to the theatre (yes, spelled the British way on purpose) when you still dressed to attend. You held your applause until the end as not to spoil the whole experience and you were treated to the talents of Rogers and Hammerstein, Stephen Schwartz, or Andrew Lloyd Weber. Gone are those days - just dust in the wind (to borrow a contemporary tune). *sigh*

No longer do people feel that going to the theatre is a special event and out of respect to that event and to the actors performing they dress accordingly. Of course people don't dress to dine out either but that is another blog all together. Not only is not dressing in your "Sunday best" an option but many folks feel that jeans are appropriate for Lerner and Loewe as it is going to Lowe's Home Improvement store.

Okay, I could possibly curmudgeonly deal with lack of appropriate dress but I can't excuse the lack of originality on Broadway these days. No longer are we treated to sheer sing-along-ability of Rogers & Hammerstein number, the sexy footwork of Fosse, banter of Gilbert and Sullivan, the genius that is Lloyd Weber. No, instead we are "treated" to the likes of Disney and bad Hollywood movies being turned into...*gasp* Broadway musicals.

I'm not saying there aren't still a few new shows on Broadway but the majority of shows these days there and touring are not what they used to be.

So as I said - it's official. I've become a curmudgeon. Moaning on about "the good ol' days", shaking my fingers at "kids today" and their lack of appropriate dress (although there are plenty of adults that fit that category as well) and general waxing poetically about the past glory days of Broadway.

Well, this ol' curmudgeon is just going to use modern technology to reminisce of days gone by:



So raise your glass to one more curmudgeon in the world and just allow me to enjoy the "golden days of yesteryear" while the rest of you enjoy the new modern theater.

Introduction to My Corner of the Sky

Every man has his daydreams
Every man has his goal
People like the way dreams have
Of sticking to the soul
Thunderclouds have their lightning
Nightingales have their song
And don't you see I want my life to be
Something more than long....

Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
from "Corner of the Sky" - Pippin

So now you know where the title of my blog came from. Pippin happens to be one of my top favorite Broadway musicals. Something about that musical resonated in me from the first time I saw it. As I struggled with a name for my blog I got to thinking what was this blog suppose to be about? Was it about my musings? Yes, but too many others have used that word. Was it about my views or opinions? Well, more than likely but just what was I trying to get across? Then I thought, "Well this is going to be about my little corner of the world...". Things that mean something to me and hopefully to someone else as well. That is when the song hit me. This was about me - my life.

So the name of the blog, Something More Than Long, as well as the name of this blog entry, My Corner of the Sky, are both taken from the above song. I want to share with you that care to read my thoughts, my corner of the world, my corner of the sky.

I think we all want our life to be something more than long - so hopefully I can provide a little insight into a life that although not full of "... crimson, gold and lavender - A shining parade..." has something to offer more than it's length (which isn't very long as of now).

As Pippin sings in the Finale:

I wanted magic shows and miracles
Mirages to touch
I wanted such a little thing from life
I wanted so much
I never came close, my love
We never came near
It never was there
I think it was here

So come back often and see what My Corner of the Sky has to offer. I promise it won't be all about Broadway musicals but "a many splendid thing(s)".