Cinco de Paco

Yesterday was a two show day, and management very gracefully provided a meal for us between performances. It happened to be Michael “Paco” Pocaro’s birthday, as well as Mexican Independence Day, so we termed the celebration Cinco de Paco. In a somewhat bizarre turn, all the food served began with the letter p, to wit: pies with meat, potato chips, pepperoni pizza, pasta salad, pineapple upside down cake, pop, and of course, hot dogs*. I’m not quite sure how to describe the scene. We had taken over the lobby of the theater; there were actors everywhere. And there was entertainment. A belly dancer came in and did her thing. We were busily munching away at the fresh baked pies (steak, curried chicken, or vegetarian) and potato salad, watching young, lovely Jen shimmy and undulate across the floor, clinking finger cymbals and dropping veils. Meanwhile Tiersa’s three small children (so cute!) were running around making people laugh and giggle.

And then came the piñata.

Apparently, Marcy Kearns, our Education Director, had had a piñata in the office, looking for an occasion to explode. Cinco de Paco arrived, and instead of watching the ponies run the Derby, we were outside, in front of the theater, taking whacks at the giant Tiki head hanging from the lamppost.** Chase started up the practice of turning round, head down, five times in a circle before swinging the bat. By the time it was my turn, blood had been drawn from the island god, and there was some candy littering the street. I went round five times. I took a wild swing, missing the piñata entirely, loosing the bat. Had I made contact, perhaps I’d have been as victorious as Tom Reed, who followed me, destroying the thing entirely, pouring prizes all over the sidewalk. I came away with five bags of garden seeds and a package of those weird little capsules that grow into safari animals when placed in a glass of water. And a lot of candy. Mmmmm, candy.

 

-SMITE-

* The p is silent. And missing.

** Courtesy of Tim Linn, who shimmied up that thing like it was his profession.