One of the few extracurriculars I participated in during high school was theatre. Singing, choreography, and acting let me express a goofier side to my “oh, so serious” demeanor.
I never was found to have noteworthy talent, so I was often relegated to supportive roles. Looking back, I don’t really mind where I was placed. I had a hard time understanding how to be fluid in my movements and danced like a stick figure. My singing was no different – not low enough to be a strong bass and too low to hold tenor notes without my voice cracking.
Regardless of my ineptitude for the dramatic arts, it was still something I enjoyed. Even today I fight to restrain myself from belting out “Greased Lightning” from Grease and “Dentist” from Little Shop of Horrors.
In this iteration of Exploring Hamilton with Hayden, I must confess that I did not stay in Hamilton County (I’ll pause for your booing and hissing). But just a jaunt south of the county line is Beef and Boards.
Now, after reading my introduction, I hope that you, reader, understand that I am no critic. I believe someone else may have that role. [Editor’s note: Yes, and his name is Ken. You can read Ken Klingenmeier’s review of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Beef & Boards at this link.]
However, for a layman’s take on dinner and a show, I can say that it was refreshing to see such a vibrant performance on a local stage. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a perfect musical to remember my enjoyment of the stage. I hadn’t seen Joseph since my middle school days, or somewhere around that time. The actors and actresses were all phenomenal, but my personal show stealer was royally unexpected.
What makes a good time – or a good show – is how much fun everyone is having. From my seat, it looked like the cast was having a blast, and so was the audience. Although, what I think I appreciated most about Beef and Boards wasn’t the show or the food. It was who the first round of applause went to – the staff: the ones who aren’t in the limelight. I had my small time as an extra on stage, but for other music department events I would volunteer to be a stagehand. Ultimately, there is no show without the people behind the scenes, or in the kitchen, or in the ticket booth, or waiting on tables, or cleaning up afterwards. That is what impressed me. There is no higher showing of a true class act than recognizing the people who make the gears turn before the people who have their names in bright lights. Those names wouldn’t be glistening if there wasn’t a person who installed the bulbs first.
You can support a business because you receive excellent service. You can support a business because it’s local. You can support a business because it’s a family-owned mom and pop shop. But why support any business unless the people running the show care about the people who make it happen?
I don’t know the ins and outs of Beef and Boards employment policies or anything other than what I experienced at the performance. What I do know is that places that recognize the people who make up the backbone of the business are places that should receive support from the community.
Even though Beef and Boards is outside of Hamilton County, it provides an experience that Hamilton County residents would be apt to enjoy. I encourage readers to think about how you can shine a spotlight on someone living life backstage and let them know that you see their efforts. Perhaps then, that spotlight may shine a little brighter on the next performance.
Hayden C. T. Parsons is the newest associate at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville.