Lola.

We just got back from the Arena Stage with the kids where we saw a great production of Damn Yankees. We have been listening to the music for a couple weeks and the boys had memorized almost all the songs. We had discussed the storyline. So imagine my surprise – when Lola started stripping down from her flaminco outfit down to the teddy – and the boys all were shocked. Max said he’d never be in a play where he had to take his clothes off. Reed giggled. Davis wanted to know why she took her clothes off. He knew Lola’s job was to distract Joe but didn’t “get” why she’d take her clothes off to do that. He knew the song was “whatever Lola wants, Lola gets” but I guess he didn’t understand what exactly Lola wanted. That was an awkward moment.

I remember when we were kids and my parents would go out and leave us with a babysitter. We would sit by the turntable and play records. We’d play Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and play the song Timid Frieda over and over. We thought it was just hysterical that our parents had a record that said “fuck you” in it. I’m sure we wore a deep groove into that one. And we’d play Man of LaMancha (weren’t we just really out there?) and Herb Alpert (why was that woman in shaving cream anyway?)… The first time I actually saw Man of LaMancha, I was amazed that Dulcinea had arms – I always thought she had only none — since she sang – One pair of arms is like another….

Anyway, I guess my point is that some music, some shows, some movies that seem innocuous enough really aren’t. Questions come up. Being prepared to answer (or evade) is helpful. All I know is that my boys are dancing around the house imitating Lola – and that Davis keeps saying (with a perfect rolled r, I might add) “Oh, Joe. You are so sexy when you say that. It makes me shiver all over to hear you say…Lola.”

It’s going to take a while to live this one down.