Tonight Kathryn and I went to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. We were in the second row, pretty much smack in the middle. Great seats for a great show. Colorful, funny and well played, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to my sister for giving us the tickets. Really a treat. Before the show, we went downtown a bit early and walked through the Holiday Market that runs along F street this time of year. Lots of interesting vendors were down there before we had dinner and then off to the show. Fun to be in the city at Christmastime.

As with most events or activities, I find the best part is the other people around you. There were four young professionals in front of us. Kathryn described them as the kind of pretentious people others mock. She was on the money in that description. The theater is very strict about taking pictures and one of the men in front of us held up his adult sippy cup, as he called it quite accurately, to read what was printed on it. The usher thought he was taking a picture and came over to yell at him. He didn’t take kindly to that although the rest of his group laughed it off. He was yammering on and on and then described himself as a “branding expect.” I wanted to lean over and say how his words and actions seemed to have branded him a top notch a-hole but I refrained. I try to be on my best behavior when I’m out with Kathryn.

There really wasn’t much signage about the no photo policy but the ushers were, as I said, right on it. When we came in a woman and her son were having the photo taken by the stage by another theater goer. They got yelled at and sat down. Then we heard the usher yelling at them again, telling them she’d already told them about the no photo policy. Selfies are photos too; in case anyone was wondering. A teenager came and sat next to me right before the show started and immediately took a picture of the stage and posted it. The usher didn’t see her but both Kathryn and I were expecting another verbal smack down.

The best was the woman behind us. I put her in her mid-50’s. She is quite the Grinch lover and recited most of the words throughout the show. Luckily, most of the time the music was too loud but sometimes she was too slow or fast for the music, and you could hear her loud and clear. In parts with no music, she was clear as a bell. When it was time for the curtain calls, she was screaming her appreciation. As we were walking to the Metro, she was in our crowd, reciting the whole thing again. It was going to be a long ride home for that family. 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WgpMq6e3o