Rocketting Around the Christmas Trees
Leaving England has meant we have to say goodbye to various English traditions. This Christmas they'll be no pantomime, no Queen's speech on Christmas Day and I'll be missing The Snowman on TV for the first time since 1984. But when you make a big move, you cannot afford to be maudlin, so we are embracing new traditions over here in the States.
Today I traded in the pantomime to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform their 75th annual Christmas show. It is based in New York, of course, but in recent years a smaller version has toured other areas.
For any readers who haven't heard of them, the Rockettes are a chorus line of dancers. In Britain such entertainment died out with The Tiller Girls in the 1960s, but they have been delighting American audiences since the 1930s. (Thankfully not the original troop).
My new friend Lou kindly drove me to see the show at the Rosemont Theatre, close to O'Hare airport.
This in itself was no easy task, since the first snowfall of the season decided to commence just as we left. Of course this wouldn't be a problem if they staged Christmas shows in the summer, but you can't tell these Americans anything.
The theatre itself was a huge modern venue. As we waited in the foyer, mothers took photos of their children in front of lavish Christmas trees. The little girls were dressed in their finest holiday frocks. A bit like England in the early sixties.
The show itself seemed pretty much unchanged since then. The Rockettes featured in a series of sketches of songs and dances. Every Christmas song you've ever heard was used - in fact I'm surprised they didn't wheel out Perry Como in a Christmas tree sweater. (Actually those sweaters are still really big in this part of the world. Even the smartest stores have red jumpers with appliqued presents and baubles).
Santa Claus was everywhere. There was so much cheese, sugar and corn, I'm surprised they didn't print the recipe on the back of the playbill (programme).
Two hours later we left and Lou bravely negotiated the ice and traffic to get us home in one piece. Just in time to watch the whole thing again on TV.....
Today I traded in the pantomime to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform their 75th annual Christmas show. It is based in New York, of course, but in recent years a smaller version has toured other areas.
For any readers who haven't heard of them, the Rockettes are a chorus line of dancers. In Britain such entertainment died out with The Tiller Girls in the 1960s, but they have been delighting American audiences since the 1930s. (Thankfully not the original troop).
My new friend Lou kindly drove me to see the show at the Rosemont Theatre, close to O'Hare airport.
This in itself was no easy task, since the first snowfall of the season decided to commence just as we left. Of course this wouldn't be a problem if they staged Christmas shows in the summer, but you can't tell these Americans anything.
The theatre itself was a huge modern venue. As we waited in the foyer, mothers took photos of their children in front of lavish Christmas trees. The little girls were dressed in their finest holiday frocks. A bit like England in the early sixties.
The show itself seemed pretty much unchanged since then. The Rockettes featured in a series of sketches of songs and dances. Every Christmas song you've ever heard was used - in fact I'm surprised they didn't wheel out Perry Como in a Christmas tree sweater. (Actually those sweaters are still really big in this part of the world. Even the smartest stores have red jumpers with appliqued presents and baubles).
Santa Claus was everywhere. There was so much cheese, sugar and corn, I'm surprised they didn't print the recipe on the back of the playbill (programme).
Two hours later we left and Lou bravely negotiated the ice and traffic to get us home in one piece. Just in time to watch the whole thing again on TV.....
posted by Hilary at
8:54 PM
3 Comments:
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By
Anonymous, at 7:54 AM
?! Can't say fairer than that
By
Adele, at 2:56 PM
Hilary
BBC America normally shows the Queen's speech but the time on Christmas Day varies each year and sometimes they don't list it very well. Often I find the time listed on their discussion boards (and sadly BBC America is not the BBC we both know from back home - no Eastenders or Only Fools and Horses)
My wife Laura told me to look at your blog. She is the office assistant at Naperville Magazine and she meet you yesterday in their office.
Cheers
Ian
By
denalifc, at 11:09 AM
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