Sunday column: I’m a bad Sanfordian

Editor’s Note: The following column was written on the Saturday before my first-ever visit to the Temple Theatre. So by the time you read this, I will have experienced a Temple show. My review of “Godspell” will be posted on this blog Monday and will be published in Tuesday’s Herald (in the Carolina section).

I’ve been a horrible Sanford Herald edi tor. There, I’ve said it.
I say this not because of mistakes in The Herald (though some of you have been known to disagree with me on that), and not because I feel like our newspaper is suffering.
In fact, I’ve grown pretty fond of our paper.
No, I’ve been a horrible Sanford editor because I’ve been here nearly 14 months, and I’ve never attended a show at the Temple Theatre.
(Clench eyes shut and wait for rotten tomatoes to start flying).
It’s true … at least up until 7:59 p.m.
Saturday (last night for you Sunday read ers). I’ve done just about everything else a real Sanfordian (or is it Sanfordite?) has done or should do — frequent lunches at the Dairy Bar, ice cream at Yarborough’s, doughnuts at Sandra’s, drinks at Local Joe’s … I’ve even climbed on the big black train in Depot Park, and I’ve bought local pottery.
I’m becoming Sanford through and through.
But I won’t become “official” until my first Temple Show, and thanks to a short age of reporters this weekend … I get (got) my first chance Saturday night so I can review “Godspell.”
It’s not that I haven’t wanted to visit the Temple. During my first-ever visit to Sanford, the Temple was one of the “highlights” of my city tour, as I was told, “For a city this size, you’ll find no better theater.”
And I’ve read with jealousy past re views in our paper on shows that have been performed over the past year.
Rarely, if ever, have I ever heard a bad thing uttered about a show at the Temple.
And if the shows weren’t enough, other people go on and on about the look and feel of the restored theater on the inside.
Downtown businesses have talked to me about what the Temple does for their business, particularly on show nights.
Heck, I work just 120 steps (give or take) from the Temple’s front door … and I never attended a show.
What kind of person am I?
I could take this opportunity to provide you with excuses. I could say I work a lot, and my schedule has conflicted with Temple shows in the past. But, as I’m sure you’d tell me, there are a ton of Temple shows … I could have at least made one.
You’re right.
I could say I can’t afford a Temple show, but you’d point out that tickets are rea­sonable, and for the love of God, I could always get a free media pass.
You’re right, again.
So the truth is, I have no excuse. That said, I’m about five hours away from at tending my first show, and I’m actually very excited about it. I have never seen a performance of “Godspell,” and I actually have no idea what it will be about (I’m assuming it’s about God and music, but I could be wrong), but I’m more excited to be part of the Temple experience and see what this city has to offer in the form of entertainment.
I’ve ranted in the past about the things Sanford doesn’t have — bookstore, Target, Chik-fil-A, professional football team — and I’ve done that without trying to take in all Sanford does have.
Once again, I’m a bad person … I’ll admit it again.
But that’s about to change, and come 11 p.m. Saturday night, I’ll be a little more of a Sanfordian (or Sanforder).
And you’ll get to see what I thought about the show in Tuesday’s edition of
The Herald (the Carolina section), where I’ll have my review.
I’ll be honest in my review, I promise, but if — by the rare chance — the show is bad, I’ll refrain from being too harsh.
Hopefully, that’ll make up a little for my being such a bad Sanfordian (or San­fordweller).
Rarely, if ever, have I ever heard a bad thing ut tered about a show at the Temple. And if the shows weren’t enough, other people go on and on about the look and feel of the restored theater on the in side. Downtown businesses have talked to me about what the Temple does for their business, particularly on show nights.
Heck, I work just 120 steps (give or take) from the Temple’s front door … and I never attended a show.
What kind of person am I?