Posted on 08/30/2018 3:47:37 PM PDT by BenLurkin
This musical seems, at first, like a Space Age folk-rock show. The actors take the stage in what look like flight suits, and each assumes a post at a different instrument. There are violinists, a bassist, two guitarists and a drummer. Each performer takes turns singing and re-telling Aldrin's story from a variety of perspectives; "Houston" even entertains the audience with a guitar solo at one point.
In "1969: The Second Man," Aldrin's tale begins with him as an eager young engineer, hoping that his work could one day support human spaceflight. After he is chosen to be an astronaut in the great, 20th-century space race, Aldrin trains relentlessly alongside his fellow astronauts, working tirelessly and forgoing his social life. Then, in the middle of training, his mother dies by suicide.But the show isn't just a flashy, musical re-telling of Aldrin's heroic journey to the surface of the moon. Those who attend the production will learn about some of the darker aspects of Aldrin's life that the show doesn't hesitate to reveal....
... In coming to terms with being known as the "second man on the moon," Aldrin has never stated publicly that he wishes he'd been first. He has remained steadfast in this — though he did tell National Geographic in 2016 that "it does get a little frustrating" being constantly referred to as the "second man on the moon." "Is it really necessary to point out to the crowd that somebody else was first when we all went through the same training, we all landed at the same time and all contributed?"The play continues to peel away the layers of Aldrin's life, re-telling his first moments on the moon, his struggles with depression and his battle with alcohol dependence.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Kudos to Buzz. He never got his accolades. I had a girl friend who owned Neil Armstrong’s farm later on. We walked by the creek and I rode bitch behind her on a four wheeler, my fondest memories of her. Yes Buzz, I’m ready to get my ass to Mars with you too. Come on, lets go.
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