…And Bells on Her Toes

I’ve been waiting two months for today, ever since I bought the tickets.  It was more exciting than Christmas!  Well, not really, but it was a pretty silly afternoon.  Lexy, Grandma and I went downtown to the Elgin Theatre to see “Cinderella:  The Sillyilious Family Musical“.  And silly it was!

I’ve seen Ross Petty perform before, but only on TV.  I think it was a version of Robin Hood that they did about ten years ago and there was this guy with a turtle puppet … “issss ittttt??”, it was hilarious.  Karen Kain was in that one.  I’ve been hooked ever since.  Ross Petty makes a fabulous woman.  He played the hilarious evil Step Mother, Bertha Von Botox to a ‘T’.  It was a pleasure to boo him.  I think the people who sat around me, Grandma and Lexy included, thought I was nuts when Ross hit the stage and I started booing, loudly.  Eventually everyone was doing it too – it was a lot of fun.  The boys (Dan Chameroy and Adam Brazier) who played the ugly step sisters (Plumbum Von Botox and Carnivia Von Botox) were fantastic, very entertaining.  It was a great balance of pratfalls for the kids and humour for the adults.   Oh and the bunny slippers, were a nice touch.

The only downside to the afternoon was the absolutely spoiled beyond belief brats who sat behind me.  One of them went to the concession stand to buy some Cinderella stuff and apparently didn’t come back with something for her sister like she was apparently supposed to have.  The mother made her give whatever it was that she bought to the sister, so the first girl had a fit.  She started crying and carrying on.  Another person who was with them kept asking her if she planned on ruining the whole afternoon for everyone else, and then someone else told that kid that ‘it was OK, we’ll go shopping tomorrow, just you and me’ – sheesh.  As if we don’t have enough spoiled brats as it is.  Let’s condone bad behaviour with a shopping trip.  Grandma and I just rolled our eyes at each other.

Despite the theatrics behind us, the play in front of us was wonderful.  I definitely recommend seeing it if you get the chance.  I haven’t had so much fun at the theatre in a long time.  Way to go Mr. Petty!

After the play, we took a stroll along Yonge Street to see the sights.  Lexy was in awe with just about everything.  We saw the Christmas display at the corner of Dundas and Yonge with the Tree made entirely from lights – polar bears too.  Some guy high on crack came up to Lexy and nearly scared her to death when he very enthusiastically asked her what she thought the figure were – “they’re bears!! bears!!! Bears!!!” and then disappeared into the crowd.  He made Grandma and I a little nervous.

Yonge Street is definitely pretty at night in the winter when they have all the Christmas decorations up.  There was the obligatory busker on the corner playing a set of pails like drums.  He had quite a good beat, but Lex didn’t quite get it.  All in all, it was a good day.  Go see the play, they’re at the Elgin until January 4, 2009.