Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
Yesterday, on the very same day that Ross Douthat published a gloomy column entitled "A Tough Season for Believers," in which Ross argued, only too convincingly, that Christianity in the United States is beating an ugly and disorganized retreat, on this selfsame day some very close friends invited the missus and me to San Jose to see a travelling version of the annual Radio City Music Hall "Christmas Spectacular."
In an arena normally dedicated to hockey, the traveling troupe had erected a vast, magnificent stage, and, as the 90-minute show unfolded, there they were, the Rockettes, high-kicking their way through a dozen sketches and three times as many costume changes, while a Santa Claus narrated, performing some very capable softshoe and singing some entirely enjoyable music. Lots of lights, color, and action, and--I repeat myself, but, believe me, if you'd seen then, you'd still be talking about it, too--the Rockettes, 18 beautiful young women engaging in tight, imaginative choreography and dancing through reindeer numbers, through a sketch based on the "Nutcracker," and through the traditional Christmas piece in which they danced in amazing precision while dressed as toy soldiers.
To the extent that a narrative thread held the show together, it involved a disbelieving teen named Patrick and Santa's effort to persuade young Patrick that, a) Santa was real, and, b) that Christmas was "magical."
At about this point, I began to have conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I enjoyed the sheer sense of fun and energy and imaginativeness of the show, as also, come to think of it, the wonderful tradition that it represented--the "Christmas Spectacular" has appeared in Radio City Music Hall every year now since all the way back in the nineteen-thirties. But I began to feel sad that Christmas had now become thoroughly secularized. Santa, reindeer, and "magic," but no baby Jesus. When my father had taken me to see the Radio City "Easter Show" something like four decades ago, it had ended with a big tableau showing the empty tomb--in those days Christianity still played a central role in popular culture. Now, I supposed, political correctness had forced Christianity offstage, even in Radio City productions.
Then the stage went black and a single spotlight came on, showing our teenaged Patrick sitting on a sofa at home with his little brother and sister--and the children took turns reading the nativity account from St. Luke: "And the angel said, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
Once again, the stage went black. Then, as the lights came back up, three gorgeously costumed processions made their way across the stage, one for each of the three kings. Once again, fade to black, and then the final tableau, with Mary and Joseph and a crib on a platform with the kings and shepherds standing below, in postures of solemn adoration. I suppose this sort of tableau is old-fashioned, even hokey. But I'm telling you, my friends, as "Joy to the World" sounded in that hockey arena, there wasn't a dry eye in that audience of thousands.
If simple piety can still, here and there, find expression in popular culture, then you know what? It still ain't over. Western civilization has a fighting chance.
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Oct '10
Re: Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
Merry Christmas Peter and to all of Ricochet! I am really looking forward to your comments on Milton Friedman's "cabinet remodeling" in the context of Prince Hans-Adam's assertions of the prudent and necessary functions of the state.
Jul '10
Re: Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
Very well put, Peter.
I saw this very show a couple of years back in Minneapolis, and my reaction was exactly the same. I went expecting to see a schlocky/tacky Xmas show, and came away blown away by the professionalism, imagination and energy of the performance. And especially by the unexpected spotlight on the reason for the season.
I would strongly recommend the Rockettes Christmas show to everyone. A wonderful family experience.
Re: Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
Patrick Shanahan: Very well put, Peter.
I saw this very show a couple of years back in Minneapolis, and my reaction was exactly the same. I went expecting to see a schlocky/tacky Xmas show, and came away blown away by the professionalism, imagination and energy of the performance. And especially by the unexpected spotlight on the reason for the season.
I would strongly recommend the Rockettes Christmas show to everyone. A wonderful family experience. · Dec 20 at 7:39pm
I endorse every word of that, Patrick.
And, come to think of it, wish I'd put it that succinctly.
Dec '10
Re: Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
Peter,
My wife and I just saw the show in New York last month. I got a lump in my throat during the manger scene and said to myself, "it ain't over yet." Love the Ricochet podcast and Uncommon Knowledge. I finally bought the "Starbucks" today, so this is my first comment! Merry Christmas.
Aug '10
Re: Long Legs and Saintly Ways, or, God Bless Those High-Kicking Rockettes
I saw the show Saturday before last at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The Rockettes really put on a great show. And those high kicks, yowzah!
So Peter, while I share your appreciation for the display of piety, it came so soon after the display of pulchritude that it put me in mind of St. Augustine and of how chastity and continence often call too soon.