Easter
I can understand how spring and rebirth came to be associated with Easter. And even though it's a bit of a stretch I can see how eggs go along with rebirth.
But an Easter Bunny? Bunnies don't even lay eggs! And why chocolate eggs? What exactly does chocolate have to do with Easter? Not that I'd ever, ever, ever begrudge an excuse to eat chocolate (ever).
And whoever decided to create confections out of chocolate, which both melts and stains, for a day when children are all dressed up in the best of their best clothes? All I'm saying is that it wasn't a mom. Moms love chocolate too much to waste it on their kids' clothes. At least I do.
Despite my bunny and chocolate issues, I must admit that I love those Cadbury commercials with the clucking bunny. And did I mention that I love chocolate? Although right now I'm on a diet, which might explain all the ranting.
Despite my bad attitude, for years I was put in charge of the children's Easter activity at church. I've lost count of how many egg-hunts I've planned. Probably a dozen.
The experience taught me all kinds of things, like what the warm, spring sun does to chocolate in a plastic egg. And I discovered lots of helpful things, like if you make yellow food colored ice cubes and put them in a bowl full of blue Kool-Aid, it results in a grass-green punch with “eggs” floating in it. And that if you smush green frosting out through your garlic press it looks like grass. And that fake Easter grass is the longest lasting, most indestructible (and annoying) substance known to womankind. It's been known to take down a 20-pound vacuum.
My most memorable egg-hunt happened at home when our oldest boy was about 3 and the younger, a barely-walking Weeble. As we assisted the wobbly, one our eldest ran around our yard on his own. Just as I was telling him that there were no eggs in the spot where he was looking, he shocked me by finding one. As he it handed to me I knew immediately it wasn't one we had hidden. Before the possibilities could fully form in my mind, the egg cracked and broke into my palm sunny-side up. It had been a perfect, aqua blue Robin's egg. Don't ask me where it came from – there were no trees near enough or big enough to have hidden a nest. We guessed that a Blue Jay had already been the egg's undoing before we came along.
Along with the traditional Easter egg hunts, this year there's a unique Easter activity in town, no ranting or calories involved. But it's a wonderful, one-time opportunity to experience the musical, “Savior of the World.”
The drama debuted in 2000 at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City and has been performed to sold out audiences ever since. The production has also been performed around the country by Latter-day Saint congregations, for their communities.
One hundred members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Visalia, Exeter, Hanford, Tulare and Porterville are lending their talents to bring this production to Tulare County.
According to Sara Sutton, the show's producer, the first half of the musical depicts the events leading up to Jesus Christ's birth. The second portrays events following the Savior's resurrection.
“The story illustrates what effect his birth and resurrection had on the people who were around him, and then it extends that on out to the effect it has on us,” said Sara.
People who have sat in on rehearsals told me it's already “a spiritual experience” and “near professional level entertainment.” I'm sure not going to miss that.
“Savior of the World” will be at the LJ Williams Theater on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, with evening performances each night at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $6 and are on sale now at the Fox Theater Box office (that's right—a different theater). You can order by phone by calling 625-1369. Tickets will also be sold at the door if there are any seats left.
But tickets might get scooped up faster than Cadbury chocolate at an egg hunt. So I'm going to find my tickets before I'm left with nothing but chocolate egg on my face. And dress.
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