More of the theater weekend

If you haven't read my previous post, read that first. (Unless you don't want then... don't.)
The following morning after our highly entertaining night at the opera (thank you Marx Brothers), we headed back home in time for a 2 p.m. Palestine Community Theater performance of "A Miracle on 34th Street" at the Texas Theater. The newly renovated Texas was beautifully decorated in the holiday spirit. Most of the show was pretty good. The director, Terri Warren, had to take over the role of Doris Walker, and she did well. The other two standouts were Chris Ryal as Fred Gaily and Megan Meyers as Susan. These last two showed great energy and pathos in their portrayals of the would be suitor and his love interest's daughter. Kris Kringle, played by newcomer Fred Stroud, presented a bit of a problem. It was obvious from his first few lines that he has had a stroke in the recent past. This made him difficult to understand at times and stole the life from his character at most times. Santa should be "lively and quick, a right jolly old elf" and Fred just couldn't pull that off. He certainly looked the part with a genuinely white 72 year-old beard. The overall show was quite enjoyable, and, though only modestly attended, was a success.

But did this end our "Performing Arts Weekend"? Oh no. Sunday evening we attended a concert/contata performed by the Anderson County Community choir & Orchestra with the Anderson County Youth Chorus. I had heard the choir once before last spring when they sang with the local high school band for one number. Okay, but not spectacular. This was a whole new experience. The choir had nearly doubled in size due to the exposure last spring. The orchestra practiced with the choir instead of separately leading to much better coordination. It was spectacular, even though the inexperienced audience sometimes showed their lack of concert experience- read "manners". The music was a stirring performance with a full, rich sound that was surprising for a small-ish east Texas community. I say this without bias, even though my son was the tympanist with the orchestra. The only place they dropped the ball was the regretable east Texas habit of doing your thankyous (to the director and such) onstage instead of the more appropriate backstage setting. Of course that's just me, I guess. The upshot of all this is that, come Easter, I'll be sure to clear my calendar and attend their next performance. See you next time.