Hmm. And a rant.

So at the Sunday matinee of Billy Elliot, I'm in the rear mezz (obviously), about four or five rows back. In the three or four rows in front of me where a bunch of high school girls who were clearly on a class trip or something and who obviously had no desire to be at the show. And we all know high school girls are obnoxious anyway, so couple obnoxious with bored, and it makes for a not so great audience. First of all, they were doing the standard things people do when they're bored. Talking, texting, etc. But that I can almost deal with, as long as I can't really hear you talking or you're not leaning in to your neighbor and obstructing my view. It was their other behavior that was much worse. First of all, eating. I don't care if you eat at a show. They wouldn't sell food at the bar if it was a problem. But loud crinking and chewing is just absolutely obnoxious. Eat at intermission or before the show starts. Or at least open your packages then. Instead of listening to "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher," I'm hearing "crinklecrinklecrumplechewchewchewchokechewcrinkle," and that's annoying. And that's still not the worst of it. At one point during Act I, I look down, and they have their feet on the ledge in front of them. REALLY? It's not a goddamn movie theater or your freaking living room. You're in expensive seats at one of the more upscale theaters in the Times Square area. Act like a damn adult. Oh, also, there's the issue that you're blocking the view of everyone sitting behind you. I was too far behind them to tell them to take their freaking feet down, but finally someone did. But my view was still obstructed. You know why? Because they had water bottles on the ledge. And it happened to be DIRECTLY in my line of vision at the end of Electricity, which is my absolute favorite part of Tommy's performance. So annoying. I'm shocked that the ushers didn't say anything to them. They're tough at that theater, to say the least. G-D tourists. I had to take a picture at intermission (subtly, of course) to document how annoying this was.



Also, this is the second cutest Matthew in the world...
Matthew Mindler of BE (obviously. It's not like I talk about anything else. Except Next to Normal and Bruce Springsteen). He plays "Small Boy," alternating with the cutest Mitchell in the entire world, but that's irrelevant right now. Anyway, Matthew is seven, and outside of the stage door on Sunday, he serenaded me with all of the songs from the show. He was hyper, to say the least, and the fact that I was laughing at him got him even more fired up. He's actually really good at Billy's songs! I nominate him for Billy in 2015. I love him.

I can't tell if I'm excited for next weekend or dreading next weekend.

On Friday night, I have a date. Me. Bruce. Giants Stadium. It will be awesome, and I'm excited. Especially since I don't have to dread the post-show depression that always hits me really hard after Bruce. I'm still feeling it from Hershey, although whether that's the show itself or my company from the concert is anyone's guess, and I'm leaning towards the latter. But anyway, I'm seeing him on 10/2, 10/9, and 11/7. So I have a lot of Bruce to look forward to in the coming month, and a ways to go until the withdrawal hits. I'm really excited for Friday night.

Saturday...eh. It's Kiril's last show in Billy Elliot, and I'm going. I think it will be a great performance. Last shows always are, and Kiril is the first Billy and the first Tony winner to leave, and it's a role he's been working on for three years. It will be emotional, and I love emotional theater, so I'm looking forward to it. But then that means Kiril is gone. And he's my favorite Billy, so I don't want him to be gone. And the even sadder thing is that this will promote Tommy Batchelor to the status of "Heather's favorite Billy," but he's leaving on December 11th. So then what? I have Trent, but only until the early Spring. This is why I hate getting attached to actors in their role, but those boys are so sweet, with such infectious performances and personalities, that it's hard not to.

So in short, Bruce=Good. Billy Elliot/Kiril=good. No Kiril=not good.