V-A-L-L-I

I finally saw Jersey Boys (second Bucket List task accomplished)! It was technically a Christmas gift (accompanied by a dinner at The Ritz, fancy schmancy), but this week was this first time my schedule allowed for spending an entire day down town. At first, I was a little disappointed because Frankie Valli was played by the understudy, but the entire cast was fantastic. I liked the structure of the script, the dialogue was funny, and they worked in all musical numbers so seamlessly. I still can't believe how many songs I knew. "Big Girls Don't Cry," (not the Fergie version) "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)," "Workin' My Way Back To You," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You." are all originally by The Four Seasons.

Watching the "real Italians" in the show made me really proud of my heritage, but it also made me wish that my family were a little louder and more closely connected with the mafia (note: I have absolutely no idea how closely connected we are, but my guess would be not at all). The men are smoother, the women are stronger, everyone is a little more honest and a little more complicated. The Italian side of my family is actually relatively small, polite, and soft-spoken. But I think I've started to grow into the stereotype the longer I live on my own.

The show also made me think where I would have been socially if I were alive in the 60's. I always claim that I would have been at Woodstock, a totally hippie-runaway. But every time I hear that feel-good music that seemed to be holding on to the ideals of the 50's and not quite ready to jump into the disco-crazed, polyester-covered 70's, I am just elated and can't help but do the twist. And if my parents were anywhere near as loving, supportive, or family-oriented as they are now, there's no way I'd be running away for California.

Ah, well. In another life.