Amateur Night
Do you think Al wanted to perform at amateur night? First he mutters 'some people have to work!' Then was singing 'The Unfortunate Rake' to no one in particular (maybe the trophy mounted on the wall).
shareIn an earlier episode he mentions that he knew Jack Langrishe to be a producer of the "highest caliber" or some such -- but only by way of attendance at his amateur nights (in Chicago?).
So he's not averse to going...maybe he'd performed a bit in his youth.
But as a pillar of the community and a figure who needs to elicit no small amount of fear from his fellow citizens, his singing might be counterproductive.
I believe we see him drinking quite a bit in "Amateur Night", so it was probably a spontaneous bit of revelry that he was only able to indulge in because no one else was around.
But as a pillar of the community and a figure who needs to elicit no small amount of fear from his fellow citizens, his singing might be counterproductive.
I think that's true. Recall also previous episodes where he didn't want to be seen as a participant: Bullock's son's funeral, Bullock's wedding festivities, Tom Nutall's boneshaker ride...
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson