More Madness

The drive to the Kennedy Center was uneventful, although I did what I thought the GPS was telling me to do, not what it was actually telling me to do and the drive was a little longer (past the Jefferson Memorial) and a little more annoying (crossing Rock Creek Parkway) than it should have been.  Driving alongside the Center, looking to loop around to park, I found a little lit sign that said parking was open so I turned in.  I paid the man the $22 to park and he gave me a receipt.  Nothing unusual at all.

The parking garage was fairly empty; I suspect the Super Bowl was responsible.

Up the elevator to the box office... which was closed.  We were directed to a different box office on a different level where helpful people said "what are you ladies looking for?"  I said "ticket pick up" and we were directed to a window where I gave the man my (alas, male) surname; he gave me an envelope, and we went on our way.  Nothing unusual at all.

Ugh!  My hair is trying to escape!

And that set the scene for the evening.  "Ladies" and nothing unusual at all.

I asked a helpful-looking gentleman where the theatre for Shear Madness was.  He said "you ladies should try to get there early" and explained that they have a great soundtrack and they do some amusing things on stage and it's worth getting there early.  He was so nice and polite I just listened until he stopped and I asked again where was I supposed to go?  He finally pointed the way.  I was wondering if he was going to talk until curtain time, but it's nice to interact.

It turns out they had (a great soundtrack) and they did (amusing things).  The music was a little bit of 60s, and 70s and 80s.  The setting was predominantly pink, but the clientele was male (at least tonight).  The actors came out and cut someone's hair before the show started in a mostly mime, fairly fun fashion.

Interestingly, there are six cast members: two women and four men.  They listed two understudies, one male, one female; each had responsibility for three roles.  I guess one role (say, the assistant policeman) could be a male or female role, but for a while I was intrigued.

During intermission, we stayed in our seats and the actors talked to audience members.  At one point, the actor who played the main hairdresser said "where are you ladies from?"

After the show, even though the theatre was quiet and there were out-of-the-way restrooms, I declined to use the opportunity.

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Madness! Shear Madness!

Before I start, I need to apologise to the people (and groundhogs) of Punxsutawney.  I butchered the spelling of that li'l town on Sunday!

Also, of the 4 (!) readers who've seen Americathon, no-one hated it.  The others might have turned it off and wiped the memory; I'll never know.  But it's worth watching, if you can find it.  Really.

As I said, Shear Madness plays at the Kennedy Center, which is in DC, just over a bridge from VA on route 66, less than a dozen miles from my apartment.  Nothing is ever easy in DC, and you have to drive around and loop to get to the Center.  Getting back is easier, but there's often a backlog of cars.  There are several shows at the Kennedy Center, and if they get out at the same time, or if there's a popular show, leaving might take some time.  It took forever to get out after seeing a performance of Hair a few years ago.  Since the show gets out around 9, and I have to be at work early Monday, I'd prefer to not sit in traffic a long time.

The Kennedy Center is also a dressy kind of place.  Men in suits or sports jackets, women in nice dresses; sometimes even gowns (but I would expect Shear Madness to be more casual than, say, a National Symphony appearance).  Yes there are jeans and polo shirts, but the women mostly dress up and probably encourage their partners to do the same.

I had two dresses picked out.  Both are greenish.  This was the choice:
 

teal	green velvet
3/4 sleeves	long sleeves
knee length	maxi length
high back	high back
lowish V neck	lowish scoop neck

Shoes were limited.  My mid-heel Mary Janes, a mid-heel pump, my favourite pumps.  My boots

Meg @ Home

were uncomfortable as were other more pointed shoes ~ that broken toe, though healing nicely, doesn't need the extra pressure.

Afternoon temperatures were in the low 60s, so I figured I could skip a coat that night.  My outdoor activity would be to walk from the apartment door to the car and back.  Parking at the Kennedy is underground and cost more than the ticket to the show!

I was concerned about restrooms.  I know the theater often has long lines for restrooms, and I didn't care to stand in a line.  I want to get in and out as quickly and quietly as possible.

Oh....  I decided to go with the shorter teal dress.  The other one can probably wait until the holidays.  Or a Renaissance festival.

As you can see from the picture, I didn't go with the shorter teal dress.

I had tried on the teal dress a couple of days before and I liked the way it fit. 

I put on my makeup and got ready and changed my mind about shoes.  I had a brown pair that would go nicely with brown tights.  They have a rounded toe and higher heel.

Then I grabbed the dress and my mind was changed for me.  The teal dress which fit nicely just a few days ago barely zipped up and was incredibly tight.  I have no idea what happened between Thursday and Sunday, but that dress was OUT.

I went with my burgundy cowl neck dress that I had worn to a previous game night.  It would also be warmer than the teal and I knew it would be cool when I got home (as I said, it was over 60 when we left for the show.  Six more weeks of winter?  HA!).

I also made a bad choice: I never know whether to put on my padded panty over or under my hose.  It seems like under is the logical choice: women wear their built-in pads under their panties; hose should stretch over the pads.  But over the hose is more comfortable since this panty can dig in at the leg openings.  I went with under.

As I said, bad choice: I had strapped on my shoes and it was getting late.  My newly chosen dress has a more flared skirt and I really didn't need the padded panty.  But removing shoes, hose, panty, restoring hose, shoes was too much bother.  I left it on.

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Can't Pass Up A Bargain!

I'm writing this Saturday so I'm not sure what happened on Sunday yet.

There's a show called Shear Madness that's been playing at the Kennedy Center in DC for 25 years, over 11,000 performances.  If you mention "Shear Madness" to anyone around the DC area, they've either seen it or certainly know about it.

I haven't seen any of those 11,000+ performances.  Until yesterday (Sunday).

Instead of the usual $50 a ticket, they had a $20 a ticket special (otherwise they'd have an empty theatre on Super Bowl evening).  Even though money is tight right now, I can spring for $20.

The question is whether Meg or male will go to the show.

I'll let you know tomorrow.

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