“Is this her first Nutcracker?” asked Dania, as the applause built.
“No, she’s been before,” Gwen answered, watching her sister dance. As soon as the curtain call had begun, Hazel was on her feet, leading the adults to stand as well. She leapt off the ground, attempting to replicate the virtuosic jetés of the dancers. Gwen, bending down, put a hand on her shoulder.
“Wait until we’re outside,” she whispered, among the applause. “You could kick someone.”
“What’s your favorite holiday movie?” asked Dania, as she tacked a paper snowman to the wall.
“Hm, I’d have to think about it,” Gwen demurred. So many good options to pick from. “The best Christmas films are the ones you watch when you’re younger. They’re family oriented. So should I account for that person bias when picking?”
“No, bias it up,” Dania replied. “Anyone can say, like Home Alone, I’m talking about personal favorites.”
The slow bossa nova beat slinked its way into the room, sultry and impassioned. As Gwen stood by the stove prepping dinner, she began to involuntarily shift her hips back and forth to the rhythm.
Wrap me up in your love / wrap me up in your love / wrap me up in your love (this Christmas)
The lyrics weren’t as vibrant as the other tracks on the album, but John Legend made for a perfectly effective backdrop during the holiday season. Gwen hummed along.
Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. This week, the Girls discuss a classic Christmas chart-topper from 1994…and the rest of the CD it came with. Let’s hear what they had to say…
Gwen was about to give herself the week off. She had been hitting the ground running for the coming year – sending out résumés, booking interviews, trying to nail down the chaotic schedule of a working theatre artist in Chicago. But that break didn’t start until the 20th of December – before then, she was still working hard, writing out cover letters as Christmas music played softly from her speakers.
The relative calm was suddenly broken by a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Dania emerged, wearing a thick winter sweater.
The Hanslick Girls 