CLEVELAND — Summer's gone. We knew that it would go.
Still, we sometimes wish for an extended stay, even if just for a while.
We knew all along it was a limited engagement, but in this part of the world, summer and its hot production destined to close out. For those of us who understand the theater of seasons, we are aware, there were only so many performances of summer before it inevitably wraps and a new show of autumn moves in.
Summer has packed up and autumn is already rehearsing its lines. So, I celebrate whatever Mother Nature's traveling act brings to town.
Life in Northeast Ohio has taught me there is always a transitional time of the "Summer That Was" and the "Autumn That Is," but I have year-round tickets and a front row seat for whatever is on the playbill in the Northeast Ohio show of shows. I don't know about you, but I find this time of the year especially spectacular — Mother Nature promoting a dazzling onstage wardrobe.
From the marquee through a gilded lobby to the audience seats and onto the stage, Autumn can be stunning.
There are theaters everywhere, but this is among my favorites: The Cleveland Metroparks, where autumn often shows even early with a preview of "more of what's to come." As the critics say it, "The scenery was superb and the dialogue crisp and catchy."
Every character voiced the lines; the music from the orchestra pit flowed beautifully. Mother Nature has the right repertoire. For my taste, the early days of autumn boast real-life drama backdropped in reds, browns, and golds "popping" from the stage, brightened by the overhead spotlight.
All is easily seen even from the balcony's back row, but come on, admit it! There's not a bad seat in the house.
For me, I'll take a seat on the aisle right down in front. If you're waiting on my critic's review as to early autumn, so far, this theatrical season is good. My headline reads, "Bravo! Bravo!"
I'm predicting standing ovations for this season's limited run until another show moves in, but until then, I'm applauding autumn, which has begun its run. From me come shouts of "Encore! Encore!"