Reflecting

I saw Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again at La Jolla Playhouse the other night, and wow, it really stuck with me—maybe a little too much. The play follows Eddie, a fresh-out-of-Juilliard actor with big Broadway dreams… who instead lands the “coveted” role of Young Scrooge in a regional production of A Christmas Carol. The years roll by, and Eddie keeps coming back to the same local theater, moving through every male role imaginable, while the play, the green room, and the eternally grumpy stage manager stay exactly the same. Watching it made me laugh, cringe, and reflect, especially as it reminded me of my own history with San Luis Obispo, The Melodrama, Kevin Harris, and PCPA—places where the same folks still rock the same roles like local celebrities with lifetime contracts. Honestly, I must’ve been half-dreaming about the show, especially since I was so sick, but it hit me hard, making me question where I’m at now. The nostalgia, humor, and bittersweet self-reflection were almost too much, but maybe that’s the point—if you’re not wondering where you’ve been and where you’re going, are you even doing life right?

#theater #musicals #toxicfamily #toxicpeople #narcissism #gaslighting #mentalhealth #toxic #boundaries #abuse #survivor #healing #dysfunctionalfamily #depression #manipulation #bipolar #life #sucks