It was truly breathtaking!
The Nutcracker performance was being shown on the Big Screen at the Capitol Theatre to an audience packed with families. Kids of all ages were there. Everyone was captivated and enchanted.
And then…the computerized projector froze.
The whirling dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet were suspended mid motion.
And then…the screen went black.
A strange, uncomfortable silence fell over the theatre as we all sat in the dark.
On the screen we could see the technician hitting the play, stop, play stop play stop keys on the computer.
The kids started getting restless.
Lots of iPhones started to light up.
I heard people mumbling about getting their money back.
I sat there thinking… how times have changed.
New technology allowed people in my small community to see some of the best music, theatre, and dance productions in a very up close and personal way.
But when I grew up in the big city, my parents used to take me to see a live performance of The Nutcracker. And I took my children to see it live when we lived in a big city too.
It’s a magical Christmas story and the ballet is filled with dancing sugar plum fairies, mice, toy soldiers, real children, beautiful imaginative sets and gorgeous music.
Now that I live in a small town, the opportunity to see the Bolshoi Ballet (maybe the best in the world?) perform Nutcracker was one opportunity I couldn’t pass up. …. The woman sitting next to me leaned over and said “I was once at a movie when the power went out. Someone in the audience started to sing, and everyone joined in.”
“Hmmm”, I said. “Should we? Would people join in?”
“Maybe” she said.
I leaned over to the people in front of us. “If we start singing Jingle Bells, would you join in?”
They looked at each other, shrugged, and said “Sure. Why not?”
So we started to sing.
Within seconds a few others joined and within a few more seconds the whole theatre was singing along.
When we finished Jingle Bells we switched to a rousing Deck the Halls, followed by Santa Claus is coming to Town.
The whole mood in the theatre had changed!
We were all laughing and singing together and just enjoying each other.
Even if the ballet didn’t come back on, we were all loving the spontaneous decision to just “go with the flow” and accept that things haven’t gone as we expected, and still have a great time.
The theatre lights came on. The manager came to the front and explained what had happened and that they were hopeful they could get it fixed.
Then she looked out at us and said “Let’s sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”.
And just as Rudolf was about to guide Santa’s sleigh, the movie came back on.
We all cheered, for the movie, for Rudolf, and for us… for turning a disappointment into a celebration of community.
This time of year is filled with all kinds of expectations.
Especially from family.
As parents, you plan and work very hard to make your holiday celebrations a happy time.
But things don’t always go according to plan.
In fact, if you have young children, more often than not, plans often can go in a totally different direction.
So what to do if your plans start to fall apart?
Take a tip from the theatre crowd.
Just start singing Jingle Bells!
Let it go and go with the flow.
You’ll have a less stressful and happier time for the holidays.
And you’ll most certainly Enjoy the Season!
