The Muny

There are advantages and disadvantages about having an outdoor theatre. For example,

Advantage: you don't have to mark the fire exits
Advantage: a lot of people can watch
Disadvantage: bugs
Disadvantage: rain
Disadvantage: heat
Disadvantage: lightning

Kelly and I finally got around to going to The Muny last weekend when our friends Todd and Kelly invited us to go. The Muny is a large outdoor theatre (seats about 12,000) in Forest Park in St. Louis. It was built in 1917, and every summer they bring in all kinds of musicals and operas during July and August. The best part is that they leave the back 1,000 seats open to the (poorer) public for free. Usually, a rather lengthy line forms outside the theatre with people who get there a few hours early in order to secure a free seat.

So we packed a picnic and camped out last Sunday evening for a showing of Miss Saigon. Besides my neglect in bringing a corkscrew and my subsequent ineptitude in using the one we borrowed from a fellow queue camper, it was a great time. Subs, hummus, pita chips, fruits, veggies, Phase-10, and a tasty white wine with hints of apricot and cork.

We were minding our own business when a man wearing a Best Grandfather cap asked us if we were all together. He proceeded to give us four tickets, $160 total face value, for free! Said he went earlier in the week and didn't need them.

We accepted the tickets with thanks, but Todd was skeptical. We tried to explain the concept of "nice people" to him, even calling him a Doubting Toddas, but to no avail. Nevertheless, after a thorough inspection, it was declared that the tickets were, as far as he could tell, real.

Our improved free tickets meant that we could see the actors on stage, sometimes even tell their expression. We weren't close enough to see the flies wander in and out of their mouths as they sang I Still Believe, but I hear that's another perk of outdoor theatres.


During one scene, when the American troops are leaving Saigon, they actually flew a real helicopter overhead, and it hovered right over the theatre for half a minute before taking off. Chalk up another point for outdoor theatres!

It was an incredible performance, but after the second act started, we began to see lightning in the distance. With three songs to go, the wind started picking up out of nowhere. At first I thought it was just an effect. A twig landed on my arm. People started leaving the theatre. Then sprinkles. With two songs left, they announced that they had to end the show, informing the audience that they should head to their cars with due speed. We had barely pulled out of our parking spot when it started pouring cats and armadillos. Lightning everywhere and no visibility.

So we got it all! The camping out, the free show, the good seats, the helicopters, the singing, the humidity, the thunderstorm, and the music stuck in our heads... we got everything you want from an outdoor musical except the last two songs. And next week they're showing Fiddler on the Roof, so we might go back for more.

Only disadvantage?
The high on Monday is 100.