Stranger Things

On the afternoon of July 20th, I was in Times Square trying to buy same day tickets to The Outsiders musical. It was sold out. The only other show I was kind of interested in was Sunset Boulevard, but that show was closing that night and the tickets were $900/ea... ugh! 

I was talking to this guy by the TKTS booth who talked fast and worked for another discount company across the street called Broadway Tickets Last Minute Center. I remembered that a co-worker's husband mentioned liking Pirates! The Penzance Musical, which was a spinoff of Pirates of Penzance, so I asked about that one, and the tickets guy said: 

Tickets guy: You want to see Pirates? *judgy face* Do you like jazz? 

Me: I do like jazz! 

Tickets guy: Okay, you might like it then -- you know what you should see is Stranger Things. 

Me: No, I don't watch the tv show and it looks scary. 

Tickets guy: It's won a ton of awards and it's great. I've seen it 3 times. 

Me: Is it scary? 

Tickets guy: Have you seen Harry Potter? 

Me: I have seen Harry Potter, and I also wasn't a Harry Potter person but I loved the stage show. 

Tickets guy: That's why you should see Stranger Things. It's won a ton of awards and the theater making is phenomenal. Like nothing you've ever seen. We can get you back orchestra seats for ... $96. You'll love it. 

At 6:45pm, I walked into the Marquis Theater in Times Square to watch the 7pm performance of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. 

About 20 minutes in, something happened in the show that I found so scary that it made really angry. The tickets guy tricked me! I asked him if the show was scary and he said... he said, "did you see Harry Potter"...damn. I wanted to march out of there and get my money back, but how would I ever find that guy again, and when would I do that because I was leaving the next day, and there are children sitting next to me who seem to think this is awesome, and people are clapping at the scary things...?! I started to think about the theater making, which took me out of emotions and into production, and then I started to step out of fear and into respect for this incredible performance that was unfolding in front of me. The effects were exceptional, the actors had me deeply invested, and I was hanging on every word...but, what exactly was going on? I had no idea. There was this scary possessed guy, and these high school kids trying to put on a musical, and they were fighting alien monsters? 

Even with the shift in perspective, I still left the theater that night wishing I had picked another show -- but, then, I found myself unable to stop thinking about it... 

I started asking J- about the tv show. Had he watched it, did he like it, were they fighting alien monsters on stage?? What was the show about? He said that the tv series was really good and he thought I could watch it cause it's not too scary and it kind of has a Goonies vibe. He said he'd rewatch it with me in case I got scared. 💖

And, that is how I fell into the wonderful, heartfelt, definitely scary, delightful adventure that is Stranger Things. I had no idea that I would love this series so much! The charm fully outweighed the scary because you fall in love with all of the characters, and you're rooting for them from beginning to end. 

J- and I managed to get through all 4 seasons in time to be ready for the release of Season 5, at which point we were both obsessed with the show. :) He got us tickets to see the finale in the theater on New Year's Eve, and it was a completely satisfying goodbye. I mean, until conformity gate was suggested. But then, when conformity gate was for sure not happening, it was a satisfying goodbye again. Haha

Thank you, Stranger Things -- and, fast talking tickets guy! ;) What an intense and amazing ride!