Field Trip: The Theater

We had the opportunity to take a road trip over the weekend to see a play in a historic opera house.

We traveled to Abbeville, South Carolina, where we explored the downtown area’s shops and town square, ate dinner at a fabulous Mexican restaurant in a historic town square building, and then attended the play.

The boys enjoyed learning some history about this small town, and we visited the Civil War monument and read all about its being both “the birthplace and the deathbed of the Confederacy.”

The buildings on the square have been beautifully restored and maintained, and it was fun just to walk and look up at the interesting architecture.

The Abbeville Opera House theater is like a step back in time, complete with chandeliers and plush decor. It felt like we were entering a world from an era gone by as we went to see the play, Belles on Their Toes.

Belles on Their Toes is the follow-up to Cheaper by the Dozen by Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.

Written in 1950, Belles on Their Toes continues the story of the Gilbreth family in the 1920s after the death of their father. The Gilbreth family included twelve children, and the young actors did a wonderful job portraying them. We read both books a while back, so getting to see a live performance was a special treat.

Live theater is such a fun experience, and this old opera house makes the fun even better with cushy rocking seats and old-timey fixtures.

It was a fun family atmosphere, complete with intermission concessions of candy and soda pop. Plus, the play was both a literary adventure and a history lesson, so I’d call it a successful field trip!

If you’re ever in the Augusta, Georgia area, Abbeville is just a short drive. It’s a wonderful place to explore.