I Love a Piano (and More!)

It was a dark and stormy night last week when we set out to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre  to see their new play – “I Love a Piano” – celebrating the songs of Irving Berlin.  The play is jam-packed with American standards and it tells the story of a piano that made its way through quite a few owners from the 1920s, through WWII, and into the 1950’s.

From “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” to “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, to “There’s No Business like Show Business”, the energy of just six people on stage was remarkable. And I loved the tap scenes with the men.

While I didn’t know all of the 50+ songs, I knew quite a few – you will too!

The great thing about musicals is that they take your mind off all serious topics of the day and let it float through the night with joy.  They are a great break from reality.

There is usually one song from a musical that gets stuck in my head.  That song was “Blue Skies”.  It was one of my dad’s favorite songs and he often sang it – or at least the refrain.  And when I’d call from two states away and ask how he was, he’d often answer – “we have blue skies shining above”. 

Maybe I remember that song the most because at the end of the show, we walked outside to pouring rain, lightning and thunder.  It was the second day of the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, which would bring torrential rain and flooding to Lancaster County.

If you need a break from reality, head to Dutch Apple for “I Love a Piano”.  It's only 30 minutes from The Artist's Inn.  I'm happy to report that we do have "blue skies" once again.