Pioneer Song

Caroline and I went to see Pioneer Song last night.  That is the play Justin has been directing for the past 3 months.  After all of the horror stories I had heard every night after rehearsals I was not really looking forward to it.  But I was pleasantly surprised.   It was not about Mormon Pioneers, as I had suspected.  Although they were mentioned.  It was the story of one woman who was going to Oregon with her three daughters.  She had had a loveless marriage and wanted her girls to have good marriages with a "song."  Her oldest married an abusive man who made her go to California for the gold rush.  Her middle daughter married a Mormon boy who took her to Salt Lake and they had a beautiful marriage.  Her third daughter dies along the trail.  This woman who was a widow takes in several other women helping them to empower themselves against abusive men, against unhappy marriages, and against difficulties of losing husbands along the trail.  It was so good.  I really loved it.  The music was not great.  It was a musical.  But the story and message were so great.  In the end her oldest daughter leaves her husband to save her baby daughter from the abuse.  And Ruth, the main character ends up marrying the leader of the wagon train after she finds him to be respectful and falls in love with him.  It ran pretty long, but I really enjoyed it.  Caroline and I sat up in the sound booth, so I had to witness this one guy texting the whole night.  So annoying!!! Even after they asked everyone NOT to do it!  Caroline thought the play was scary.  A lot of people died.  And there was one scene with an abusive man and his wife.  I am happy that Justin had the opportunity to do it.  It was written by one of the faculty here in the theater dept.  So that was quite an experience to be able to work on an original piece.  But I am mostly glad it is over.  I am glad Justin will be home in the evening to help wrangle the kids.  And I will get the opportunity to talk to him before midnight!  Gotta love the theatre!