Gone to the Dawgs

Anyone who knows me (or has read this blog) knows my love of sports, such as it is, is driven by a loyalty to my husband and son.

So, when my offspring called and offered to take us to see a new live show about long-suffering Browns fans, I was fairly "meh" about it. I can get by with rudimentary knowledge about the rules of the game. And, while I don't remember every one of the dreaded Browns' milestones (millstones?), I can tell you EXACTLY where I was when "THE Fumble" occurred on January 17, 1988. (In the parking lot of our apartment complex in Alexandria, returning from seeing a movie by myself because I was not up to watching the ill-fated game with Denver. Six floors below our closed-up apartment, I could hear Mr. Ginley screaming.)

In any case, my kid asked us to go with him, and my husband was game, so off we went.

Dawg Pounded was a great romp from start to finish. Considering the topic, it should have been a real downer, and in a few spots it was, but overall, it was so stinkin' funny, I laughed myself silly. Personally, I enjoyed the songs the most, a collection of parodies that were brilliantly written and delivered by a lively cast. But the dialog between the two main characters, Paul (Tom Hill) and Otto (Greg Mandryk), who spent much of the time in pain before a TV set we never saw, was equally entertaining. And Don Jones, as "Pittsburgh Pete" was convincingly annoying. (My son assures me he is a Browns fan in real life.) Props to Tim Tyler, who is the creator of the play.

Back in the day, I wrote lyrics for our Managers Meetings (such ditties as Hello Larry and Everything's Coming up Diamonds), so I have a pretty good idea of how challenging it is to get the words and the cadence just right. (Props to John Krol, Dawgs' music director.) If they ever come out with a soundtrack, I'm getting a copy.

Okay, okay, no, I am not auditioning to be the next Maven of Playhouse Square. I got a little sidetracked here because I think it's important to give credit where it's due.

The point is, sometimes you've just gotta do something that's outside of your comfort zone. I am so glad I did. Thank you, Joe, for treating your mom and dad to a delightful night out.

Woof, woof!