We went to see Suessical last weekend. In case you don’t know the storyline it’s about Horton, an elephant with a big imagination, who connects to a Who named JoJo with an imagination the same size. JoJo lives in Whoville, a town the size of a spec on a clover, so no one believes Horton when he tells them the Whos exist. The musical tells the story of believing in yourself and how having just one person who believes in you too, whether they’re larger than life or the tiniest spec, can pull you through.
Parker is singing “Alone in the Universe,” one of the songs from Suessical, for an upcoming audition. It’s the song where Horton and JoJo both sing about being misunderstood but ultimately connect and realize they’re not alone if they believe in each other.
I’m alone in the universe
So alone in the universe
I’ve found magic but they don’t see it
Continuing our musical-a-weekend habit, this weekend we saw Elf the Musical when the broadway tour finally landed in Detroit. Parker’s been anxiously awaiting it as he touches up his Elf costume, begging me to figure out how to use a needle and thread. Costumes and singing and stage dreams are his whole life.
They all call me a lunatic
Okay, call me a lunatic
If I stand on my own, so be it
Being a boy who doesn’t love sports left him a little bored through the warmer months. He’d give a couple good attempts at throwing a football or swinging a bat with the neighborhood kids then head back home to the creative world he loves.
‘Cause I have wings
Yes, I can fly around the moon
And far beyond the sky
And one day soon I know there you’ll be
I’ve watched him grapple with giving in and doing what the other kids like or sticking with his passion, measuring fabric while singing his heart out. He’s beginning to notice that not everyone enjoys show tunes from their front porch and I’ve had to remind myself of their age when kids tell him he looks weird in a Santa suit under a 70 degree sun.
One small voice in the universe
One true friend in the universe
Who believes in me
I so badly want to help him through his quest to be himself and guard his imagination like a thick-necked man in the secret service but all I can do is encourage his confidence and hope it grows strong enough for the years when his mom’s opinion isn’t cool anymore.
I’m alone in the universe
So alone in the universe
My own planets and stars are glowing
Alone in the universe
Before the show I took a chance and tweeted a picture of Parker in his Elf costume to Spenser Micetich, the actor who plays Buddy the Elf. Spenser tweeted right back and by show’s end I was ushering my 9 year-old elf to meet someone who dreamed as big as I hope my son does.
No one notices anything
Not one person is listening
They don’t have any way of knowing
He took time with our family in the freezing temperatures, showed off Parker’s costume to other cast mates and encouraged him to keep up his great work. Parker was quiet and shy and listening and I woke up this morning to his sweet voice drifting through our heater vents as he practiced every one of Buddy’s songs from last nights show.
Nobody knows that
I have wings, I have wings
And I can fly, I can fly
Around the moon and far beyond the sky
Right now people are hurting and scared because of things far bigger than theater dreams. Because being different in any way, different in who you are, where you come from or who you love has become not just difficult but dangerous.
Well, someday soon you will hear my plea
One small voice in the universe
One true friend in the universe
Please believe in me
Maybe this is what we all need right now or what we need to be for someone else. The big person for someone who feels small, the person who believes in them when they are wavering and worried about today or tomorrow or the future stretched in front of us all.
Yes, I have wings, I have wings
And I can fly, I can fly
Around the moon
And far beyond the sky
Take a minute to connect with someone who might not expect it or be as gracious as Mr. Micetich when someone else hopes to be heard. You never know how much they need to know you’re listening.
You called my name and you set me free
One small voice in the universe
One true friend in the universe
Who believes in me
Lyrics borrowed from Alone in the Universe, here’s the whole song…
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Leave a Reply