| Side Show Broadway Playbill |
Our weekly date night is of paramount importance to my wife an I . We’re very intentional about booking a babysitter and setting aside a few hours to enjoy each other’s company, kid-free.
Sometimes, we plan simple outings that include a quiet dinner, neighborhood walk, meeting friends, or catching a movie. Other times, we plan something exciting like having drinks on a rooftop bar, hitting a trendy restaurant, or going on a boat cruise along the river. And once in a while, we take advantage of the wonderful culture offered in New York City and attend a show, concert, new museum exhibit, or a local sporting event. It’s also nice to be spontaneous and go with the flow without planning anything at all.
Last week, we had an exciting cultural experience by attending an incredible Broadway Musical, Side Show at the St. James Theater. Sadly, it’s closing on January 4th along with another one of my favorite musicals, Once. Consequently, I decided to write a brief letter to Side Show.
Dear Side Show,
Please don’t close. Seeing musical’s like SideShow is the reason why people like me find Broadway shows so special, entertaining, and magical.
Based on true-life conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton, I was transported on a strange journey back into the Depression era. I was mesmerized in a world of freaks and bizarre oddities – a man with three legs, a midget, a bearded lady, a cannibal, a dog-man, and other unusual characters – where instead of feeling creeped out, you quietly sat rooting for the well-being of these people. It was among this carnival sideshow, where we were introduced to the legendary twins, and saw glimmers of talent that eventually launched them to stardom.
Faced with an insurmountable prejudice among society, it was beautiful to watch these stars overcome obstacles – love, greed, power, disabilities – together as siblings, humans, and best friends. There were interesting plot-lines woven into the story that kept the pace moving quickly along, and kept the audience hoping ( praying) for that happy ending. Spoiler alert: it never happened.
Buoyed by wonderful songs, dazzle of dance (the group tap number was marvelous), unique costumes, and two lead actresses that captivated us all, Side Show delivered an extraordinary tale that moved the audience in a way that most Broadway shows don’t.
The curtains came down, audience on their feet, and I was left thirsting for more. Side Show, please don’t close.
Sincerely yours,
Disappointed Dad
*Disclosure note: We received a free pair of tickets to attend a performance of Side Show. The “freeness” of the tickets have not influenced our review in any way. Bottom line: This was just a fun show to see and you still have a brief window of time to catch it before is closes on January 4th.
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