Puttin' On the Ritz (Thoo-er Doo-er! )

Again with the 70+ degree weather? Umm... Seasons? Seasons? Calling Seasons, party of four?

I'm off to see Young Frankenstein tonight on Broadway. It's in previews. It was a last-minute decision, but I'm pretty excited. It's the one day all week I'd planned leaving on time, too, so it worked out perfectly! Row F. And not nearly the fortune some have paid. Pretty sweet.

I really only have one solid Halloween tradition. Every year, either on the night of, or some time close to it, I sit down and watch Young Frankenstein (the film). Sometimes I make a party of it, sometimes I sit in my dark, quiet living room and just enjoy it alone. It's my favorite Mel Brooks and among my top-10 favorite movies. The DVD version is even better than the theatrical release, including Mexican interviews (it was filmed in Mexico) and about an hour of extra footage that makes the whole thing actually make sense. It's one of the first DVDs I ever purchased and it's among my most cherished. You haven't seen everything until you've seen Marty Feldman interviewed in Spanish.

Otherwise, I'm not really much of a Halloween person. I never have been. Dressing up in costumes is something that used to imply "work" to me (theater), so I never really got the appeal. Even as a little kid I never really got into the whole thing. My Halloween costumes were usually something kinda' lame that my mother would pull together at the last minute. I just wanted the plastic things with the mask. And the candy. Autumn is my favorite season, but I can do without the holiday. (Leave the pumpkins, though-- they make great soups and baked goods!)

To me, costumes have been something to be selected by wardrobe people. I'd put them on, do my job, and rush to shed them once it's all over and sit in the dressing room, usually in my bra and tights, as I carefully wiped the makeup off my face.

Honestly, my favorite part of the whole visual costuming process was the makeup. To this day, I can't smell the slightly musty scent of pancake base without getting all nostalgic. It's better than a waft of warm gingerbread or a freshly mowed spring lawn. Since my first show was at the age of 3 (or thereabout), it was deeply etched into my soul. The smooth feeling of the sponge being dragged across my face, the eyeliner and mascara that were otherwise taboo at home until far into my teenage years, the exaggerated features one could create... it all was pretty heavenly. It's a little funny to think about since that, too, is something I typically only do for performances of some kind. I don't wear much makeup otherwise. Also, I did discover a passion for the right dance shoes far before street shoes caught my eye. I still get a little weak in the knees at the sight of the perfect, glove-leather t-straps with nice, girly heels. Add taps and the feeling doubles. Yes, sometimes I forget my body doesn't like to do that these days. Those are pretty nice moments of reflection at least.

Alrighty-- gotta' shove some food into my belly and head out!