Act 4 Scene 22: The Lonely Burrito

Food is one of the defining elements of culture. Especially American culture. We Americans like to use food as a means of social gathering. PTA organizations provide bagels to overtired soccer moms to entice them to come to morning meetings. Student-run clubs order pizzas, often too many, and those who made the effort to attend often get more than their fair share. Friends catch up over skinny, low fat, lattes with whipped cream (ah, the irony) at Starbucks. Food is there during laughs, tears and reunions.

Maybe this is why it’s always broken my heart to see people eating alone.

It’s bothered me for years now. I know that our fast-moving culture often requires businesspersons to grab lunch on the go. I myself have been subject to “lonely lunches.” However, it’s always saddened me to see men in business suits chewing silently while scanning headlines or women reading books as they mindlessly munch on salad.

I always wonder, do they feel as lonely as I think they are?

It might seem as though I’m over thinking this. Some people like to eat alone and don’t mind it. So what’s so sad about eating alone? Well, actually, a lot.

First of all, the thought of people eating meals alone has always reminded me of my dad, who travels a lot for business. Seeing suited men order for one always reminds me of how my dad must sit at a solitary table instead of requesting a table for “cinco” at the local Mexican restaurant.

Inside diners’ eyes, I can see the kid sitting along in the cafeteria with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich his mom lovingly made for him. The juice box, the apple, the pack of cookies if he was lucky. Inside those adults is the kid who was always a little left out. And it breaks my heart to think that being picked last in gym class doesn’t end. That a feeling of loneliness persists throughout life.

I once saw a man eating alone at an outdoor restaurant. The waiter brought a piece of cake with a candle in it and set it down across from him. No one sang. No one smiled. The man had tears in his eyes, and I could only imagine that it was for someone special that he had lost. Instead of sharing the cake with that person, it sat there, the candle flickering. Still lit.

My sister once comically described a teenager eating a burrito by himself as “the lonely burrito.”  At some point, all of us have been the lonely burrito. Instead of talking over a meal or taking a pause in a conversation to chew and mull over what you’re planning to say, we eat alone with our thoughts.

Eating alone makes us aware that we’re getting by. It’s just another meal on another day. Not every meal will have meaning. After all, food is food. Mealtimes can evoke memories, satiation and even happiness. But they can also be lonely burritos.  

Did you miss me?

Recently, I’ve heard from more than one person that I should have another blog for my random, everyday thoughts. And hey, if people are willing to read my writing, I’m more than happy to oblige! 

Since this blog is a little neglected (not by choice, I just don’t have the time or opportunities to see as many shows as I’d like!) I’ve decided to add a section, which I should be able to update more often. Scenes. There are many events in my life that I am told, “Would only happen to me” or are too hilarious to go untold. So, if you’re reading this, it means you get to be a part of these scenes! More often than not, you’ll be a chorus member, but hey, better to be in the chorus than not in the show at all, right? 

Happy Birthday To You!

Disclaimer: I'm making an exception for a reflection on a very important day. Jane Austen's birthday doesn't technically have anything to do with theater, but her novels have been turned into stage adaptations, which means that this post is justified.

That's right. Jane's taking over the world.
Google agrees.

Yesterday was a very special day in the literature world. And, sadly, many people went about their days unaware of this monumental occasion. Yesterday, December 16^th was Jane Austen’s 235^th Birthday! Yes, I had been looking forward to this day and made sure to celebrate by dedicating a Facebook status to her and telling absolutely everyone I knew that it was her birthday. It may sound crazy, but I wasn’t the only one celebrating. Janeites worldwide tweeted about the occasion and Google UK even dedicated its “doodle” graphic to her! 

As part of the celebration, I find it necessary to reflect on all that Ms. Austen has done for the literary world. (However, I did not sing to her for two reasons:

1.) She would never want to hear me sing and

2.) If she were alive today, she’d be confused, because Happy Birthday didn’t become popular until after 1893.)

          She wrote only six novels in her lifetime, but all six are still read and reprinted to this day. It has been estimated that at any one time around the world, there are more than 600 Jane Austen adaptations being produced. China has increased its Jane Austen output by 400 percent over the past seven years, and looks set to be the world leader by 2012! 

Her characters are immortal, not only in their homes in her books, but also in film. Keira Knightley made Pride and Prejudice sexy with her portrayal of Elizabeth, and in turn, taught (some) boys that Jane Austen can be cool. Wait…scratch that. Is cool.

Of course she'd pose with a notebook.
She's just that awesome.

Sadly, Jane never married. However, this never stopped her from thoroughly enjoying life. Her best friend was her older sister Cassandra, with whom she regularly exchanged lengthy letters. She was also close with her nieces and nephews, allowing her an outlet for any motherly affection she might’ve felt. Based on her strong female characters, it is clear that Jane held very high “standards” when it came to the opposite sex. She had a short, love affair with Tom Lefroy when she was twenty years old. Even though she was madly in love with him, his family found the Austen family to be too poor for their distinguished son and believed he could do better. A reflection of this dilemma can be seen in Austen’s last published novel Persuasion.

Austen is often mistaken as the “mother of chick lit.” However, this title could not be further from the truth. Though often romantic, Austen’s stories are not full of mushy, gushy pet names and senseless “he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not” dilemmas. Instead, Austen advocates the female use of reason in relationships (imagine that!) Instead of relying solely on their feelings, Austen reminds women to use their heads. Through her stories, Austen also effectively proves that women are sensible creatures. It’s Austen’s subtle sarcasm, realistic characters and ironic narration that have led me to fall in love with her writings.

I often say that I would like to live in Jane Austen’s time period. A life full of reading, writing, dressing up, taking walks and going to balls sounds absolutely splendid to me. But there’s also more to an Austen novel than these everyday events. Many critics complain that “nothing happens” in her novels, which makes them incredibly boring. The point is, Austen proves that a lot can happen in every day life -- that snide comments people make and shy glances do have an impact. Through Austen, we can see that little actions can have a big effect on others. Austen showed audiences that using one’s head in decision making is not to be undervalued.

Aren't they adorable? Whoever combined Pride and Prejudice,
babies and cartoon characters is a genius.

Thanks Jane, for crafting the first real novel. For giving women everywhere the right to think for themselves in relationships and for proving that smart women are not to be taken for granted. May your legacy continue on for another 235 years and more. 

Cheers! 

"There's Nothing Halfway About the Iowa Way"

To all of my loyal followers:

I would just like to let you all know that I have been chosen to attend the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival as a representative of the National Critics Institute (try to say that in one breath!) The festival is in lovely, more-rural-than-Missouri, Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University from January 16-22. (Ames is only a skip, hop and a jump from "River City," which my fellow Music Man cast mates and I paid a visit to my junior year).

At the festival, I'll get to review four shows and take workshops from real, established theater critics. Though I'll be missing the first week of classes for second semester, this opportunity is invaluable and I couldn't be more excited about it if I tried. As my Zaneeta, my character from the Music Man would say, "Yee Gads!"

But, I didn't get here alone. I'd like to thank everyone who has ever read any of my reviews, whether it was me asking you to comment on my STAR Reporter observations or because I sent you links from articles that I wrote. I know I tend to over-write and my pieces can be long, but getting feedback from all of you only helps my writing.

January will be a busy time for my blog, but in the meantime, be sure to keep checking back! I have some ideas for shows to review over winter break that aren't typical and even more off-off broadway than you might expect.

Thanks again!

Now Playing Off-Off Broadway (1071.74 miles to be exact)

Within what distance can you be from Broadway to be considered "off broadway"? While most (if not all) of the off broadway shows I know are within the city boundaries of NYC, I decided to declare that I am "off-off broadway" just to be safe. After all, Columbia, MO does turn out to be 1071.74 miles away from the world's theater capital.

Though technically far removed from the "main stage," I know that I'm never too far from a theater production. Whether performed by third graders with homemade props or professionals with accomplished set designers, it's safe to say that somewhere, someplace in the world, the magic of a theatre is occurring.

Well, that's a broad statement, right? Of course theater is happening somewhere in the world at any given time. That's what makes it so awesome. While there's no way I can ever hope to comment on every theater performance occurring, I do hope to reflect on major happenings in the theater world, as well as to review the productions that I'm able to see.

After all, how often can one person be transported to a world entirely different than her own? I'm making it my goal to find out.