Dinner Theater

No. I'm not discussing Junior Mints during intermission, or a three-course rubber chicken dinner during a suburban performance of "Man of La Mancha." I'm actually talkin' about having a beer, chili and cornbread during a honest-to-goodness, off-Broadway theatrical performance.

And, let me say, until you've had a pony-neck Lone Star beer and Virgil's chili during a musical theater rendition of Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, you haven't done theater!

Last night I was lucky enough to do just that with my pal Celeste, when we took in a performance of Lone Star Love at the John Houseman Theater on 42nd Street. The show is a Pappy-slappin' good time unto itself. And, forsooth, the whole Shakespeare meets Texas thing actually works. (I think that the Bard would've been especially delighted with the yodeling cowboy.) But, it was the full-blown, on-stage, audience-participation barbeque at the onset of the play that set the jovial tone of the comedic delights to come. And, there were guffaws a plenty. In fact, I can't remember laughing that much at the theater since I saw Avenue Q.

And, how do you handle intermission after a hefty helping of BBQ and musical theater comedy? With an oversized rugelach, of course!!! Celeste had picked up four of these boffo-baked treats at the unvenerable, 24-hour Trolley's Deli & Pizza on 42nd. Those suckers were so big, I christened them ruge-large. Dare I call them Texas-sized, complimenting the theatrical theme of the evening?

Nah. I like ruge-large better. Oh, and the rest of the play was a humdinger too! (Never used the word humdinger before. I'm so delighted!) I suggest you buy a ticket to Lone Star Love before it closes at the beginning of February - and come hungry.