What’s the point of living anyway? Sometimes, while watching the ten millionth streaming service recommendation, I can’t help but ponder the imminence of my inevitable demise. It’s like being in an existential theater, where every show is a repetitive loop of my meaningless existence. Okay, let's dive deep into what media suggests for us this holiday season, shall we?
Let’s start with “Janet Planet,” which deeply resonates with the existential angst of not only being 11 but also realizing you're trapped in a suburban wasteland with nothing but woodland critters and over-rehearsed family dramas to keep you company. If you must watch it, catch it on Max, or don't – you’ll die someday anyway.
Moving onto an even sadder spectacle, a film where the only light left is the ghost light – yes, that’s actually what they call it in theater. I guess it's a metaphor for my solitary soul. This heartwrenching movie, directed by none other than Kelly O’Whoever and Alex Whatshisname, somehow makes the tragic death of a teen the background to a local “Romeo and Juliet” play. Irony much? It’s streaming somewhere on Amazon Prime Video, where everybody goes to pretend their family issues are just well-scripted drama.
Finally, “Mean Girls – The Musical.” Ah, expect plenty of side eye from the afterlife because apparently, high school never ends, it just gets a new cast. Tina Fey decides to remind us all why high school was a horror show, this time on stage with ghosts of theater past like Jaquel Spivey and Auli’i Cravalho. Honestly, who needs Shakespeare when you have Regina George as a life coach?
As the holiday season makes you feel more alone, remember this morbid little joke: What’s lonelier than watching a theater show by yourself? Dying alone. Cheers to that.
Based on the original article "21 Movies, Books and Albums With a Theater Focus to Consume During the Holidays".
