Happily Ever After
I know that “West Side Story,” with its Romeo and Juliet theme, is touted as one of the greatest love stories of all time, but I could argue that. Not that I don't whole-heartedly believe that both are two of the greatest literary theatrical pieces ever – I do. I just think of them not as romances, but as tragedies.
If you want a sad ending, just watch the news. Love stories need a happy ending.
My own family has a plethora of happy endings . . . or at least a running start at them.
A beautiful girl captured my brother's heart while he was serving in the Air Force in Okinawa. So of course he married her and they're now writing their own happy ending complete with subtitles.
Despite the fact that our parents were high school sweethearts, both my brother and I married foreigners – my husband is from Alabama. After we were engaged, I had to learn to speak Southern.
During World War II, my maternal grandparents eloped across the state line. For 60-plus years they stuck with the story that there were only two movies in town and they'd seen both of them, so they went and got hitched.
My father's parents made an odd couple in the beginning. She was the daughter of a wealthy railroad man. He was the youngest and humblest of railroad laborers. They ran away together and somehow made it through the Great Depression, six children, her diabetes and blindness, his deafness and cancer and 48 years until they left this earth within months of one another.
Okay, I know you're thinking that death isn't exactly a “happy ending.” But I'm not talking about a miscommunication that led to a senseless double suicide or young people killing each other because of the color of their skin.
Does that mean I'd pass up an opportunity to see a really good production of “Romeo and Juliet” or “West Side Story”? Ah, contraire – I just take along a box of tissues.
Now we have just that chance . . .
Grab a box of tissues and head over to the LJ Williams Theater in Visalia to see Golden West High School's production of “West Side Story.” It will be playing Wednesday, April 2 through Saturday April 5, with 7:30 p.m. shows each evening and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Tickets are $9 general admission. Or save a couple of bucks by going on Wednesday or to the Saturday matinee – they're a steal at $7 a ticket.
“Every year I am so impressed with the talent, and this year is no exception,” said Mike Wilson, Golden West drama instructor and director of the show. “All the leads are really strong, and the supporting characters are equally strong.”
The cast is 105 strong to be exact. This is a big production.
Mike estimates that the entire show will cost about $43,000 before it's all said and done. But based on last year's success of “Singing in the Rain,” Mike is optimistic that the box office will cover that and provide extra for scholarships and the money to begin on next year's musical.
Optimism. I think that must be the secret of a long, happy marriage. That and a sense of humor.
How else could marriages survive the tragedies of life armed only with a box of tissues?
The most optimistic day of my life was a gorgeous, spring day in March of 1988. A wedding day perfect enough for the happy ending of a romantic movie, but of course ours would have needed subtitles.
Send comments to RoniSMiller@yahoo.com
The above stories are the property of
The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission
in writing from the publisher.
