Go Dog, Go!

Took Rachel to a play this afternoon, a theatrical version of "Go Dog, Go!" We went with Amy, her husband Greg, and Tony and Jake. I was a little worried that Rachel wouldn't be able to sit through what I thought was going to be a 2-hour play (it was really 1 hr and 20 mins) but she was a CHAMP. I keep needing to remind myself that she is really much more mature than I give her credit for. The book, one of Drew's favorites from childhood, is about dogs -- big dogs, little dogs, black dogs, white dogs -- and shows them in various stages of their lives (at work, at play, in the water, on top of a dirigible, etc.). I used to complain that it was a dumb book with no narrative structure, but it has actually grown on me. Too bad it wasn't part of my own childhood (or maybe it was, I don't remember).

Anyway...I was skeptical that such a short book with simple sentences could accurately be transposed to a theater setting, but darned if it didn't work! It was a production of Northwest Children's Theater (yet another reason to love Portland; this is a city that really, really gets kids) and was held at the Northwest Cultural Center, a nice setting with a good stage and comfy benches with cushions. The theater has acting camps and acting classes, and I can't wait to see if, when Rachel gets a little older, she may be interested in exercising that part of her brain.

At first she was scared because the play started with a solo dog sitting on a chair and instruments making lots of loud, startling noises that even made ME jump. "I wanna go home," Rachel said, then faced into me and buried her body into mine. But as soon as the singing and rollerblading started (yes, rollerblading!) she really got into it. "I like those guys!" she said, laughing, about halfway through. "I'm having fun!"

She laughed at all the right places and was quiet when need be. The play was recommended for kids 4 and up, and she's not even 3 yet! So, I really think it's time to introduce her to children's theater. Northwest Children's Theater is doing a production of "Snow White" the weekend after Drew gets back, and if we end up staying in town for Memorial Day weekend, I'd definitely like to take her to see it.

Afterward Rachel didn't want to leave the theater -- in fact, she pitched a temper tantrum that embarrassed me but I tried to ignore it. Pretty soon it passed, we came home for snack and nap, and then Amanda and Jenn showed up for a concert they're attending as I write this. We all got to have pizza for dinner before the girls had to leave for the concert. Rachel was her usual charming self; while she played with puzzles I told Amanda and Jenn all about the play and then said, "when Drew comes back we're going to take her to see..."

"Snow White!!" Rachel interrupted. I laughed. "Yes, in fact, that's the play we're all going to see when Daddy gets back!" I said.

After Amanda and Jenn left, Rachel looked at me. "What shall we do?" she asked. Surprised, I answered, "Well what do YOU want to do?"

"I want to go upstairs and I want you to play with me," she answered.
"OK," I assented, and we went upstairs.

We proceeded to build two beautiful houses with blocks. Mine was so elaborate that it probably could pass for one of Quadafi's summer retreats. Rachel's, by contrast, reminded me of the George W. Bush ranch in Crawford, as pictured in today's NY Times Magazine. One level, glass, stark to match the surrounding desert. Rachel's version was an exercise in modern architecture. I asked her if I could live in it.

"No," she answered. "Delly and I live in the house."
"Then who lives in the house that I built?" I whined.
"You and Daddy," she answered patiently.

Oh, well, at least we get to live next door! (Delly, by the way, has graduated from being a baby in Rachel's tummy to a toddler. She is now, apparently, Rachel's little sister).