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| March 9 to April 9 at O'Rielly |
Pittsburgh Public Theater held an event to support The Children's Home of Pittsburgh and the Lemieux Family Center before the second night of the musical "Daddy Long Legs" at the O'Rielly Theater. This organization which offers adoption services, a pediatric hospital and a day care for medically
fragile children, seemed like the perfect charity to combine with this
play. Daddy Long Legs is about an orphaned girl (Judy), who goes to college because a generous anonymous trustee (Jervis) finances
her studies. This musical is really about Judy's educational, social, and personal growth, and her secret to happiness.
Reflection
The play is an Off-Broadway musical that premiered in 2015 which is based on the Jean Webster's 1912 novel. In the
play, Judy’s education is financed by an
anonymous benefactor (Jervis) only if she writes him
a monthly letter and she is not to expect a reply. He believes that letter-
writing will strengthen her skills as an author. She gives her benefactor the pen
name, “Daddy Long Legs” because she only knows that he is tall, and because she takes
issue with his choice of the alias neutral name, John Smith. This character has a lot of spunk and according to Jervis,
she is “a girl with some brains and wit.”
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| Danielle Bowen (Judy) and Allen Snyder (Jervis ) at O'Rielly |
This musical stays energized by two
characters (Judy and Jervis) who ping
pong beautifully sung melodies, often harmonizing together, even though they are not singing to each other but about each
other. This play is similar to a modern opera with 14 songs in the first act and 11 in the second. The fantastic singing is engaging as Judy transforms through her education and Jervis becomes more involved in her life than she realizes ( listen to music here).
Through the letters Judy’s optimism, gratefulness, struggles, and personal growth is revealed. Judy sings “Things I Didn't Know" which illustrates her pre- educational
isolation as a life long resident of the girls asylum and "Like Other Girls" reveals her longing to fit in and have a family history. She remains positive sharing "The Secret of Happiness" which is: “ learning how to glide, just
enjoying the ride, not to mourn the past, not to run so fast, not to be afraid,
not to fear the future but living in the now, the time it takes to blink is
how.”
Judy and Jarvis eventually fall in love through the process of change just like
in the movie/play “My Fair Lady.” The
way I see it, Judy found her happiness independent of their declaration of love by becoming her personal best, which is the subject of this blog no matter
what journey you are on.
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| Event at O 'Rielly before show for Lemieux Family Center |
(Daddy Long Legs runs until April 9th at
the O'Reilly Theather. Learn more about the Lemieux Family center and their event “Shake Your Booties on Bourbon Street on March 25th )
Spiritual
Reflection
Give
me happiness, O Lord, for my life depends on you.
(Psalm 86:4)
Other Sources
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust https://trustarts.org/
Music of (Daddy Long Legs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddcoTLOJMvw
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust https://trustarts.org/
Music of (Daddy Long Legs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddcoTLOJMvw
Secret of Happiness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QEpEiI3-iE&list=PLqjsAU2fvr-fQZDtB-AxlbBcQKfFaCDWo&index=11
Highlights (off- Broadway) Daddy Long Legs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddcoTLOJMvw
Daddy Long Legs Novel (Free download) http://www.publicbookshelf.com/romance/daddy-long-legs/
Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and Lemieux Family Center http://www.childrenshomepgh.org/
Shake your Booties Event http://www.childrenshomepgh.org/events/