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Being Married

It's not great fun to watch the film version of "The Sound of Music" with me. I am the nerd who continuously says, "This is *not* how it was done on Broadway."

My husband is patient. He's maybe not fascinated that the big Mother Abbess solo has been moved out of Act One, but he pretends to show an interest in my speech.

He's so pleased that I'm watching this movie--it's not my favorite movie--that he'll let me blather and blather about how Max and Elsa have become less obviously cowardly for Hollywood.

And he'll tolerate my monologue on the "Hollywood Hall Pass." The phenomenon of the hall pass has to do with your marriage. Your spouse will allow you to conduct a one-night-only affair with a Hollywood figure, should the opportunity arise. Many gay men might choose--I don't know--Chris Pine or one of the other Chris-es, but my Hollywood Hall Pass is for "Sound of Music"-era Plummer. In that uniform. With that special astringency--a quality Julie Andrews herself has praised, in a documentary.

I shiver even as I type!

My husband is totally smitten with Maria, and with her nerviness. He, Marc, has a great capacity for enjoyment, and he'll actually laugh out loud at various points in "The Sound of Music," and will declare, "I love this!"--and there won't be any irony in his tone. (He feels particular fondness for the head nun's British accent. When she says, "Maria, what is it you can't face?" ....the line comes out wrong, and she seems to ask, "Maria, what is it, you c*ntface???")

I myself have a different favorite moment in the movie. It's toward the end of Act One. Absurdly, the von Trapp children have just performed a choreographed number for the rich people of Salzburg, and the people have participated, in a spontaneous, bizarre way, without any pitchy-ness. The children are wandering off to bed, and the music becomes very mysterious and sad, and the setting of the sun seems to become symbolic; the moment seems to foreshadow the crumbling of an empire. The war is on its way.

That part gives me goosebumps, always.

How happy I am to have a family to share this with.
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  1. UnknownApril 17, 2020 at 5:22 AM

    Edelweiss erotica - and that last scene, where he leads the family over the Alps, wearing the tall boots and carrying a child on his back. Sigh. So glad you are all holding up, Mr. Barrett. Your writing is a daily pleasure! I am also hoping you will watch Mrs. America, so I won't have to...

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  2. ReaderApril 17, 2020 at 11:59 AM

    It made my day to hear from you Ms. Turner! I hope you're doing well and able to read some books in this strange and nerve-wracking time. I *do* have an eye on Mrs. America (that cast!) ....I was thinking of you recently while rereading some of the Ramona books. I loved when you would read them to the second graders.....

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