Often times people fear retirement –it can feel like an end –an end of work and thus  an end to meaningful contributions to the world at large. I suppose in a sense that is true –but it is also a time of opportunity and freedom. So meaningfulness and contributions do not have to stop :ask all those retirees who volunteer or pursue hobbies or entrepreneurships or babysit grandchildren–opportunities that they never had time for during the busy working  years. If you have followed my blog then you know that for my husband and I, one of the wonderful aspects of retirement for us was having the freedom to travel more–and not  the typical travel of retirees; we chose our destinations in a given year based  on where Petula Clark was performing. And so it was that in the autumns of 2005 and 2006 we found ourselves on our way to Branson, Missouri where Petula did extended stay performances with Andy Williams at his Moon River Theatre.

On our first trip to Branson we flew to Kansas City , probably not the most efficient route we discovered –since getting to Branson required another four hour drive through intermittent thunder storms. Situated in the the Ozark Mountains, the city was  a bit of a phenomenon as it featured over 40 music venues dotted along the main strip on Highway 76– the honky‑tonk lights and long traffic lines seeming almost out of place amidst the mountain terrain. By the time we made our second trip to Branson in October 2006,we chose to fly to  Springfield Airport for its closer  proximity to Branson and discovered new attractions such as Branson Landing , a waterfront dining and shopping area and the Titanic Museum were being added to the city  to create a broader appeal to the primarily country music theme that had characterized its earlier days. 

But Branson still carried an unmistakable old‑time charm and a country‑music feel—somewhat akin to  stepping into a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. During our two trips, we visited several of its theatres and enjoyed a variety of entertaining shows. Shoji Tabuchi, the dazzling violin virtuoso, proved worth seeing both times. The Hughes Brothers, a Branson staple, offered another memorable performance. We also managed to catch Mel and Pam Tillis, The Platters, Mickey Gilley and several of the tribute shows that were so common—and so popular—in Branson.

The Moon River Theatre was very much a Branson landmark. Named after Andy William’s famous hit song, the theatre was surrounded by walking paths and beautiful landscaping. It included a restaurant offering a classic American menu. It very much fit into the Branson landscape and culture. In a description of the theatre featured in Branson Entertainment its uniqueness was well described:

The building, co-designed by Andy and costing well over $12 million dollars, is a beautiful piece of modern architecture, and has been featured in many magazines including a featured spread in Architectural Digest.   It opened on May 1st, 1992, and is quite literally unlike any other theater in Branson.   Environmentally friendly, the outside of the venue seems to organically fit right in with Branson’s rolling hillsides and lush landscape, and even features a real babbling “Moon River” that curves around the main entrance to the theatre.  Patrons can cross several bridges and walkways to gain access to the venue’s lobby, which seems to be protected by large, looming rock formations on either side of its doors.

In 2005, we attended just one show at the Theatre featuring Petula and Andy Williams. When we tried to book encore performances, once we were in Branson, they were already sold out. Determined not to miss out again, when we returned the following year, we pre-booked tickets for three shows.

All of the performances were memorable, —not only because both stars were exceptional talents, but because it felt like witnessing two concerts in one.  Petula’s set included her signature sixties hits, as well as her self-penned Memphis which she performed at the piano and her heart-stopping rendition of Tell Me It’s Not True from Blood Brothers. Andy’s set was equally enjoyable, filled with timeless hits, like , Days of Wine and Roses, Born Free, Can’t Get Used to Losing You and of course Moon River. The full strength orchestra accompanying  both Petula and Andy added to the richness of the two and a half hour performances.

At the end of the concert, Andy and Petula shared the stage singing several songs together including a powerful rendition of Hallelujah –A delightful interaction occurred when they engaged in a humorous  skit about British tea complete with a tea wagon. The ease of their interaction underscored the mutual admiration they exhibited for each other. During the 2006 performances , Petula had composed a song which they sang during this portion of appearing jointly on stage, and which they eventually recorded—aptly titled Together—

Words like wonderful, unforgettable, stunning come to mind when I try to describe those concerts. And yet, what strikes me most is a contrast: just days before heading to Branson in October 2006, we had seen Barbra Streisand perform in Toronto in a much-heralded concert. Streisand’s show was polished and powerful.  But when I posted to the Petula Clark fan List , which was active  in 2006,  I recall suggesting that the true superstar experience for me had been in Branson. No disrespect to Ms. Streisand—her concert was great—but somehow, seeing Petula was the bigger highlight. Enough so that the “Petula Adventures” continued for decades after, but we never saw another Streisand concert.