Those British Women & Mom

We went to the Arizona Broadway Theatre for a one-night special—Those British Women—and sat uncomfortably between two other couples at a table for six. I’d have sworn I reserved seats at a table for two. Not that I’m xenophobic, but if I had my druthers I’d prefer to eat only with my wife or friends. The other four had nearly finished their dinners when we arrived. So, there we were, sipping our usual dirty martinis before ordering, making very small talk with four strangers. One couple told us how they’d always drive back to Maine each summer to see Sally Struthers in a dinner theater there, implying that that dinner theater was vastly superior to this one. How in the world did these two old New Englanders wind up in Arizona instead of the East Coast haven for eastern retirees, Florida? We finished our dinners just before the house lights dimmed and the show began. Five young women dressed in skimpy UK flag skirts gave us a rousing opening number accompanied with an energetic trio of musicians at stage rear—a guitarist, a frenetic drummer, and a keyboardist. The musical selections began with several of Petula Clark’s oldies but goodies (“Don’t Sleep in the Subway, Darling” the one we all know best), followed by some Dusty Springfields (“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” and “Son of a Preacher Man” the two most obvious), and four of Shirley Bassey’s best known (Oh, yeah, “Goldfinger” and “Diamonds Are Forever” in tribute to Bond, James Bond). The young black lady doing Shirley was stunning in several floor-length gowns. And her voice was rather stunning also. All of the selections were done singly, doubly, or with all five together. After a twenty-minute intermission for desserts, another drink or two, and bill paying, we heard the second act of Spice Girls and Adele. It was an evening of songs remembered from our pasts and presents and we were both glad we went, despite having to sit with four strangers.

Television sit-coms come and go, some funnier than others, but the one currently on the air that just busts me up is Mom with Allyson Janney and Anna Faris. Who would have ever suspected that the presidential adviser in The West Wing could be so funny? And so tall? And who would have thought a show about alcoholism and drug addiction could be so comic? The whole cast is hilarious.

And speaking of funny people, goodbye to Gene Wilder, one of the funniest men ever.