Amy Lu's View

And now I present my second installment of “I’m in a show and am going to beg you to come see it.” (The first was for “Broken Hill.” I hope I continue to be in shows so this shameless pleading and self-promotion can become a tradition).

Why should you come see “Uh-Oh”? Well, there are the standard Amy-centric reasons that will probably apply to any show I will ever be in: I’ve worked really hard on it and our little theater company is desperately underfunded and we desperately want an audience to see the fruits of our labors and/or witness the trainwreck and we need your money! (Hey, if you can’t go to the show–or don’t want to–you can still support our show through a donation and get me to stop bugging you).

At this point you may legitimately point out that your hobby/personal passion does not involve demanding the time and attention of others. You cook/bake/read/garden/woodwork/crochet/knit/sew on your own and at the most ask for some social media love or in person compliments. No need for your friends to buy a ticket or make a schedule commitment, and they may even get to eat or use something useful that you’ve made.

Um, is being morally superior its own reward?

So moving on to what’s specifically special about “Uh-Oh,” either to me or our potential audience…

• I’m surprised by how much this show moves me. Maybe it will move you, too? I was worried that this script was a little schmaltzy and dated, but it’s speaking powerfully to my “I’m-too-cool-for-Christmas” self-conscious heart. One of my monologues that I have the privilege to do is a direct challenge to my “I’ve Never Had a Perfect Hallmark Christmas” resentment. The whole show is a call to be open and vulnerable and throw yourself into joy.
• Chad gets to sing and dance and get his Neil Patrick Harris on. Enough said.
• There are several scenes about food. Most of us–except Chad–like to think about food… whether it’s too be tantalized or disgusted. This show gives you the opportunity to do both. And it gives proper attention to SPAM! And let me go on the record to say that if I ate meat, I would totally eat Spam.
• Deb and I finally get to play a romantic couple (even if only for a short scene).
• The show is based on the essays of Robert Fulghum. Okay, this may or may not be a reason to see the show…if you are young, or young adjacent, you may not even know who Robert Fulghum is. (His most famous book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten came out the year I graduated from high school). But he is a famous writer, and not only that, a famous Unitarian Universalist author (UU’s represent!) and it’s fun to see how this cultural touchstone translates to stage.
• The language of the script is beautiful and funny. Source author Robert Fulghum is/was a very popular essayist, so he knew what he was doing with a phrase. Some of my favorite lines (some are mine and some are cast mates):
  • “That’s the whole deal with Christmas, I guess. It’s just real life, only a lot more of it and all at once.”
  • “So much for showbizz pizazz at midnight!”
  • “I’m too cynical to get into it, and too needy to stay out of it.”
  • “There are things you might consider doing to a donkey in private…”
  • “I’m not often aware that I am happy. But I often remember that I have been happy.” (Holy crap I feel like I could do a whole blog post on this!)

“Some of the most wonderful things have to be believed to be seen.”

I’m not sure our production of “Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas” will be wonderful (at least not through and through) but I am certain that you will need to see it to believe it!