Theater can change lives.

A couple of years ago, I saw a play that opened a huge collection of memories I had lost track of.  Thank you Mark Bedard.

They did a version of Animal Crackers at OSF.  It was fabulously funny.  Even Mark (Grouch) lost it when Mr. Pickles appeared.  We saw it 3 times.

But there was much more to it for me.  It brought back memories of time I spent with my Mom watching movies – Saturday Afternoon at the Movies.  As well as other days during the Summer.  It was mostly movies from the `30s and `40s… including the Marx Brothers movies.  It was a wonderful time.

I was not happy as a child… but these times with my mother were some of the best.  And I developed a love of the old movies.  So when I saw one on stage, as it was meant to be, it was rejuvenating.  Two years later, I still smile when I think about it.

And this year, they are doing The Coconuts!  One of life’s great joys.

Theater has the power to bring all sorts of memories, and association into our minds.  The Play is the thing.