Nelson: Rodeo is an enriching theater, and a sense of home

I feel inclined to complain about today's weather, simply because it is cooler than the weather we experienced earlier in the week, which I know is absolutely silly. Students were able to leave behind their heavy coats to bask bare-armed in the sunshine. I don't really know why, but warm weather makes me want to go home.

For those of you who don't know, I'm from Kearney, Neb. And for those of you who don't know where Kearney is, I don't blame you: normally I try to forget.

However, when the day is as beautiful as it was on Monday, there are only a few things that can make it a little better: a six pack of Molson Canadian, a pickup bed filled with your closest friends and stars.

Residents of Kearney know how to have a good time. So why would their theater be any different?

There are community theaters; there are high school theaters. Hell, some Nebraskan towns even have professional groups.

But today we're going to diverge from my usual bate of "theater is culturally enriching" and "attend First Friday" and delve into the biggest, baddest and best performance space in all the Wild West.

You walk into a place where the floor has been covered with dirt. The line at the concession stand is a mile long and people are only lining up for alcohol which, I can assure you, the venue will run out of by the end of the evening.

And as you enter the arena itself, you are greeted by the loudest, most egregious blast of country music you can imagine. An enormous American flag is staring you down from across the room. The smell of livestock is overwhelming. And, for me, the best and worst parts of home are mixed together.

You're at a rodeo.

I'm sure you're wondering how I'm going to play this ridiculous scenario off as art or at the very least, theater. Judging by the look he shot me earlier, my editor is wondering the exact same thing.

Although rodeos are considered sport, they are first and foremost entertaining. The overture of country music ends as the opening lines of the announcer's deep voice draws the crowd from their personal conversations into this evening's performance.

The actors (cowboys) line up as they are introduced and immediately afterward all join in the opening number: "The Star-Spangled Banner."

We all know how the rest of the night goes: the audience watches in anticipation as each plot is played out before them. The rising action, climax and falling action are repeated several times, as each cowboy mounts a bull and tries to hold on for eight seconds.

Apparently it's harder than it looks. Comic relief is added as rodeo clowns tell jokes and distract raging bulls. And, of course, there is always a standing ovation. Well, at the very least there is applause. Usually people are standing because they are trying to leave, but that's entirely beside the point.

It's no Lied Center.

It's a cowboy's theater. And as unconventional as it may seem, there are lights and there is music. There are actors and there is a plot. But the script is written each night and sometimes these shows have more injuries than rehearsals for "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark."

But it's home or at the very least, a version of it. Believe it or not, it can also be culturally enriching. After all, what's theater if there isn't a little blood?

Katie nelson is a sophomore broadcast journalism major. Reach her at katienelson@dailynebraskan.com.