Romantic in my old age

Contains Spoilers

Last Saturday I attended The Fantasticks at one of our local community theatres. I checked my Facebook Life Events and it was my first indoor theatre performance since seeing Sam in The Importance of Being Earnest (also at the Lincoln Community Playhouse) in February 2020. 😳 The only other play I've seen since then was The Addams Family two months ago, but that was outdoors at the Pinewood Bowl.* 

I went in knowing almost nothing about The Fantasticks, only that there was a "another Spanish role." A friend who just played Gomez in The Addams Family was cast as El Gallo (not "gallow," lol), the narrator and abductor for hire. The role called for pizazz, flair and dangerous romance, and Sean brought it all. His cape swooshing was especially on point. 😄 

Someone mentioned one of the things that makes The Fantasticks such a memorable play is that you keep thinking about it days later. I would agree, but perhaps not for the reasons most people would cite. 

In the first act The Girl, Luisa, sings "Much More," a song about how special she is (right after the narrator mentions she went insane when she turned 16...basically she became SUPER dramatic, lol). One of the lines near the end of the song is "To be the kind of girl designed to be kissed upon the eyes." She fantasizes about the great wide world, experiencing life and romance, as one does as a starry eyed teen. In the second act, her handsome pseudo-abductor returns and she begs him to show her the world. This kicks off a fantasy sequence, the adventure of their exciting travels, with her becoming overwhelmed, exhausted and not a little jaded by the end. The backdrop to this is The Boy, Matt, experiencing how scary and abusive the world can be. When the fantasy ends and she's ready to go, the bandit asks for her necklace, her most precious possession, as a token that she'll return once she's packed. She reluctantly gives it to him and asks him to kiss her, which he does...on her eyes, just as she always imagined. She's almost immediately disillusioned when her bandito disappears, along with her beloved memento of her mother. Matt then returns and they both realize what they really want out of life is each other, instead of their grand ideas of what the world has to offer. But this last part isn't what I've been contemplating the last few days. 

As Luisa was singing, it made me think of my favorite mystery novels growing up...The Judy Bolton Mystery Series by Margaret Sutton. While similar to Nancy Drew (and written around the same time), I always liked Judy's character better. In one of the stories, something happened to Judy...I think she was knocked out?...and Peter, one of her love interests, scooped her up off the floor, laid her on a couch and kissed her gently on her eyes. Adolescent Katie thought that was the most romantic and swoon worthy gesture. Adult Katie agrees with her, but then took the time to overthink the reasons why. 😊 

Maybe it's because I recently read five of the Bridgerton novels in quick succession, but romance has been more on my mind of late (for those who don't know, they're regency-era themed romance novels). Some are better than others, but the running theme is they all culminate in two characters falling passionately in love, unable to keep their hands off each other. And while I understand getting caught up in the moment, ironically romance is lacking in "I want you...I need you...I must have you." Catch the key word? I...I want, need, must have, can't help myself. It becomes about the desires of one person and not the receiver of said affection or attention. Assertive passion can feel possessive, just taking instead of giving. What's romantic about that? 

I think this is why something as simple as being kissed on the eyes (or forehead) practically bursts with romance. It's intimate and touching, an action which shows the person you care about them and creates a tender moment together. It makes the receiver feel special, cherished and loved. 

Passion and getting carried away has its place in a relationship, but especially on the front end it can come off more about an onslaught of feelings than the actual/specific person. There are few things more attractive than when someone intentionally makes you feel chosen, significant or a priority...at least in this author's opinion (a little Bridgerton/Lady Whistledown humor 😎). 

~ Katie Q. 🐧

*Apparently the last concert I attended was in October of 2019 - Lewis Capaldi in Denver. Wowza...so long ago!! Fingers crossed my next concert will also be in Denver. I have tickets to see J.P. Saxe at a small venue next month and am really looking forward to it (assuming it's not canceled).