I have had a theatrical weekend.
Today, Peggy & I took our third grade daughters to the Washington Ballet's Nutcracker. The Warner Theater is so impressive inside with it's gold ceilings and crystal chandeliers. The Washington Ballet presents a unique version of the Nutcracker. Bits of Americana are laced throughout the scenery without detraction. The waltz of the Cherry Blossoms with the Dewdrop Fairy was optic confection. The sultry Arabian coffee dance was replaced with an equally steamy Anacostia Indian duet. One of the party guests in the background of the opening scene was guest “dancer” George Stephanopolous. No kidding.

Saturday I helped my friend Anne enjoy her birthday gift of tickets to the Billy Joel based musical, "Movin' Out." Really is was more of a modern ballet than a traditional musical. I had the impression it would be more like "Mamma Mia" than it turned out to be. In this performance, however, all the music was performed by a band with one lead singer. The stories revealed in the dancing portrayed the effects of the Viet Nam war on the soldiers an those who loved them. Some of the scenes were quite touching. One dance bordering on pornographic made me squeamish sitting next to my 13 year old daughter. The band was a lot of fun.
I think tickets make a wonderful gift because the memory of the shared event always fits.