“If You Think About It, the Time Between Dinner and Dessert is Kinda Like an Intermission,” says Dad Desperately Trying to Connect with BFA Son

by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY - It’s Thanksgiving Day, and local father Mitchell Reclom just finished stating out loud that “if you think about it, the time between dinner and dessert is kinda like an intermission,” in a well-meaning attempt to connect with his BFA candidate son.

“It’s like, you know, we just experienced something great, and now we’re gonna take a break, and then have more great. Just like the theatre,” said Reclom, who listened to every cast recording on Spotify in anticipation of his sophomore’s four-day visit. “And you know, intermission is often a time for people to talk about the show, or anything else. Do you want to talk about anything? You know I’m here.”

Danny Reclom - the BFA in question, recovering from Blackout Wednesday at the hometown bar he’s been going to since age 12 - was oblivious to his dad’s plan.

“He kept asking me if I want to ‘look at the Playbill,’ but it was just our family photo album from before the divorce,” noted Danny, who sometimes shares articles by The Broadway Beat but doesn’t follow them. “Then he asked if we can do a ‘two-show day’ and watch my high school Grease performance.”

Uncle Tommy, who - let’s just say it, looks like shit this year - was more aware of Mr. Reclom’s gameplan.

“Mitchy’s a good guy, and he might not understand all this acting stuff, but he tries,” noted Tommy, who didn’t bring anything to the dinner. Not, like, a side or nothing. But also he was let go from the factory this year, and depression runs in the family, so maybe we could stand to be more empathetic. He showed up - sometimes that’s what matters most. And you know what else? We were being unkind - he doesn’t look that bad. “Why are you just staring at me? Did you have another question?”

At press time, Mitchell was seen buying Danny two tickets to Just In Time as a Christmas present, hoping that Danny would invite him to join, but fully understanding if he does not. Either way, he just hopes his son is happy. That’s all he wants for Christmas this year.