Sylvia

Sylvia by A.R. Gurney at New Dinner Theatre, OP, KS

     How a man treats his pets tells a lot about a man and his marriage. Sylvia, a stray dog played by Susan Louise O'Connor, comes into the middle of Kate and Greg's marriage when Greg , played by Jim Korinke, decides to adopt her against Kate's wishes. When Kate, played by our beloved actress from the 70's Cindy Williams, feels threatened by the attention her husband is giving to his new canine love; the battle begins between Kate and Sylvia to decide who gets to stay. Game on! They both do their best to gain Greg's undivided affections.

   As time goes on Greg's understanding of the limits of his relationship with both females in his household becomes clear and he begins to set things in proper order. However, as this play illustrates, pets can melt the coldest of hearts as they teach all those close to them about ourselves and our relationships with others.
    “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;  or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:7-10)."
    Great play and another great Sisters Night Out at the New Dinner Theatre. Dinner was as wonderful as usual but as our table guest, Crystal expressed, "The best part of this night out is always the desserts." We couldn't really argue with that!





My Chocolate Flan Cake-- YUMMY!



My Sister's Black Forest Cheesecake- Delicious!





     Take time to nurture and build relationships in your daily life. While other investments only hold temporary value, investments in relationships are eternal.
   “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20)."  “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)"

TOP SIX DREAMER'S TO DO LIST

1.  Invite a sibling or good friend out to enjoy a wonderfully prepared dessert!

2.  Invite six to eight good friends to bring a homemade dessert and its recipe to share.
3.  Thank your pet with a tasty surprise and some quality time. If you don't have a pet go down to the nearest shelter and see if you can find a match made in heaven!
4.  Rethink your pet's routine and add special quality time with him every day!-- take her along on your daily run/walk; let her sit on your lap during your daily bible reading; take him for a ride when you drop the kids off at school.
5.  Pay attention to what your pets are teaching you about your relationships and take action to make them better.
6.  Offer to take care of a friend's pet so they can have a worry-free weekend away.



The Time Traveler's Wife

    When did the love story between Henry and Claire really begin? Unraveling the mystery of their love affair in this wonderful romance made me realize how we are all time travelers in some sense because the present is so fleeting. Basking in the memories of loved ones who have passed on or even in the memories of the joy of motherhood when the children were young, these brief embraces let us travel back in time with the wisdom the future brought us. Something that Henry apparently did a lot of that brought him back to meet Claire when she was a little girl. Henry came back with knowledge from the future that he already knew and loved her. It was those meetings that created the possibility of them meeting in future. Claire would recognize him in the future with knowledge from the past that she already loved him, a future experience he didn't share with her yet.
   Time travel is always confusing but the screenwriter did a great job keeping this movie on an easy to follow time track while remaining true to the love story that was unfolding. I love how Claire's friend, Gomez, finds out that this new stranger in Claire's life is a time traveler. Gomez's reaction will suprise you but if  you want to know more details about the underlying causes of his reaction you'll have to read the book.
   I think I was more captured with the love affair than the concept of time travel. Overcoming the difficulties presented by Henry's anamoly didn't strike me as any different than any other couple dealing with frequent absenses, for example, a military couple dealing with deployment or unaccompanied temporary duties, a truck driver leaving for extended travel, a frequent business traveler, or pilot. Although the method of travel without any notice or warning proposes a unique dilemna for the couple and adds a lot of fun flare, the movie depicts the strain frequent seperations pose for any marriage.
    I was confused about what the geneticist brought to the solution of Henry's spontaneous traveling. Several triggers were discussed such as drinking alcohol and stress that may have caused him to travel more frequent. It was actually another time traveler he meets in the future that teaches him how to have some control and possibly even be able to stay in the present or travel at will. That little tip doesn't seem to change the events that occur independent of his traveling. The fact well illustrated in the movie is that his traveling to the past can not change the outcome of the future. So possibly Clare and Henry were destined to meet even if he had never time traveled at all.

TOP SIX DREAMER'S TO DO LIST
1. Take time to enjoy a trip into the past: have a home video night with family and friends, build a scrapbook about enjoyable events of the past, or look up an old friend from high school and meet for lunch.
2. Don't let a minute slip by without loving the people you are with right now.
3. Take time to dream about the future: plan a trip to a dream destination whether you think you can go or not, get a passport just in case, and write a short story of what your 'dream' life looks like in 5 years.
4. Meditate on the eternal promises of God:
    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23:6)
    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life. (John 10:27, 28)
    The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
5. Don't get too bogged down with the things in present instead remember you are an eternal being whose life on earth is brief. So think and choose with an eternal reference.
   -But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  (Matthew 6:20)
6. Do what you can to be healthy and feel good and don't let your chronicle age dictate what you think you can or can not do (unless your parents tell you not to!).

The Sunshine Boys

Love my sis...
we had a very special evening.

      The two actor team, Lewis and Clark, reunites after a twelve year recess and struggle to deal with the baggage they carried over from their 43 year career together. The Sunshine Boys, playing at the New Dinner Theatre in Overland Park, KS,  runs through November 7, 2010. Not the flashy production that the Buddy Holly show was this summer, but the main set was impressive. We also enjoyed the commerical relics aired between set changes.  

New Dinner Theatre
Overland Park, KS
through Nov 7, 2010

      Howard Hesseman brillantly pulls off the bitter old actor character and is supported by a great cast of actors. What this play lacks in production flare is made up for in great acting and thought provoking themes. Watching Clark's struggle, you can't help but wonder the worth of a lifetime of dedication to a profession or any other pursuit at the expense of relationships. What could you spend your effort and energy on that will last?

    The valdeville scenes were fun with one exception. Call me prudish if you must but I could have done without the awkwardly lengthy skirt scene. I realize this was done in the pursuit of historical relevance but I think we could have gotten the point had they skirted around that scene.

    Overall I would say I enjoyed the production. And let's not forget the amazing culinary delight. I do not know how they pull off a buffet with such five star quality. The food selection as always was amazing and the taste was equal to the task. Our server made us feel as if he absolutely loved waiting on us. However, his attention to the details was most impressive. Maybe a small thing, but when I came back from the buffet and saw my napkin had been folded and set back on the table I have to say I felt very special.

    

 TOP SIX Dreamer's TO DO LIST:

1. Pick a day every month to spend with your sister (sibling or close friend).

2. Find a great place like the New Dinner Theatre that you both love and meet there regularly.

3. Pray for each other and ask God's blessing over your relationship and each other's lives.
4. Pray for your server and tip them well.
5. Dress up and enjoy a little pampering.
6. Make someone else feel special with a card, flowers, or a night of laughter.

A River Runs Through It

     The love of fly fishing is woven into this movie about family and faith. The Montana wilderness is the back drop of this wonderful chronicle of two brothers coming of age in the home of their preacher father and loving mother. The oldest brother leaves home to fulfill a dream and career while the youngest remains at home a successful newspaperman struggling with addiction to gambling.
    At first glance, I thought the movie would portray the father as an overbearing, legalistic religious man and slam the Christian faith as harsh and unloving as often is the case. But to my surprise the father and mother were shown to display an unconditional love for both their children. An example I hope to model with my adult children. These parents display a great love for their children, exemplifying their successes, and loving them despite their weaknesses.
   The movie shows how coming back to the roots of childhood, in this case the love fly fishing instilled by their father, weaves a life of love and faith together with the magnificent works of God.

Dreamer's Top 6 To Do List:

1. Set standards in accordance with your values and walk them out.

2. Build a parental team that supports each other.

3. Encourage your children with faith, love, and prayer.

4. Share your passion with your children without expectations.

5. Love your children unconditionally.

6. Praise for their successes; pray for their weaknesses.