Wednesday, July 26, 2006

5 More Days

Five more days of living the life of an actress.

Five current happenings:

We still need lots of practice before performances (starting Friday.)
Brady's waltz partner in one number is no longer in the production (as of last night.)
Also last night, Erin's eyeglasses went missing from the theatre. Where are they?
We haven't been able to sing too much because of our colds. (It's a musical.)
We're exhausted.

Five blessings:

Brent continues to "hold up the fort."
We have a helper in the afternoons to help cook, prepare snacks to take to rehearsals, and run errands.
Yesterday,the air-conditioning was finally turned on in the theatre, on- and off-stage.
Our doctor prescribed a pill to help our bodies know when to sleep, since we are keeping such odd hours these days.
New friendships are blossoming as we continue working hard, preparing for "Beauty and the Beast."

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Prayer Warrior Alert

Okay all of you prayer warriors out there (you know who you are even if I don't) it is time to ask you to increase those prayers on our behalf.

Tomorrow begins the two most intense weeks of being involved in a play: the last two.

Our health which most of you know was already greatly impaired when we started rehearsals of this play, is declining even more so. Brady and Erin have colds, already, from their bodies not being able to keep up with the demands of rehearsals. I'm close to it.

Okay, so our feet weren't exactly planted on the ground when we decided to audition and accept these rolls. I've discussed in a previous post how sometimes we "forget" and try to do things that we really want to do. This summer, with this play, we been able to work hard towards a goal and it's been so good for us. We're asking you to pray that God will see fit to give us the strength and health we need to keep rehearsing and be able to perform all three shows. We'd like you to pray that we'd be able to enjoy it all and not be miserable as we try.

Also, we'd like you to make us laugh. When health deteriorates at times like these, it can get pretty stressful. We'll be tempted to growl and snap at anyone and everyone. We're asking you to send us jokes, funny notes, links to funny videos (keep them clean please) to help us to lighten our load. Laughter is the best medicine and we'll need it.

A friend sent this to us last night and I had to share it with you.
I guess knowing the song might make it even funnier, so I won the toss and get to post it on my blog (which more "old fogies" read.) It's created by a guy who works at Pixar. It's. so. funny. (as my daughter would write it.)

Remember those smiles and prayers. We'll be ever so grateful for them.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Behind the Scenes

The actor struts his little hour,
Between the limelight and the band;
The public feel the actor's power,
Yet nothing do they understand
Of all the touches here and there
That make or mar the actor's part,
They never see, beneath the glare,
The artist striving after art.
To them it seems a labour slight
Where nought of study intervenes;
You see it in another light
When once you've been behind the scenes.

For though the actor at his best
Is, like a poet, born not made,
He still must study with a zest
And practise hard to learn his trade.
So, whether on the actor's form
The stately robes of Hamlet sit,
Or as Macbeth he rave and storm,
Or plays burlesque to please the pit,

'Tis each and all a work of art,
That constant care and practice means --
The actor who creates a part
Has done his work behind the scenes.

A B Banjo Paterson

Erin found this poem and I asked her if I could use it. Don't ask me how she did it, but Miss Erin talked both Brady and I into auditioning with her for the "Beauty and the Beast" musical currently being produced at a local community theatre. I've had fun singing in our church choir the last few years, so I thought, "Sure... I could handle singing a few songs in the chorus, if I'm cast."

Hah! My naivete became quite apparent at the first rehearsal. (All three of us were cast and do you think Miss Erin would let us "bow out?") As we started learning the songs I knew that this couldn't be compared to preparing and singing concert music. This is acting. No, the chorus isn't just a group that stands in the background and sings along with the principle actors. The chorus is a group of individual actors who have to know their character history and are as involved in the "conversation" of the scene as anyone who has "lines."

Yikes! More than once I've wondered why they cast me, a complete rookie, if they wanted to have a such a successful show.

In all the musicals I've enjoyed watching over the years...everyone made it look so easy and fun. Who'd have thought so much work was put into them?

Off to practice, practice, practice.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Braces off!

Brady's smiling big to show that he can bite into things now. No braces!

The process isn't completely over. He has a "positioner" (looks like a football mouth guard) that he has to wear a couple of hours in the daytime and at night. It is still working on getting his teeth into the correct position, so Brady's not quite home free yet. But this is a good stage to be in. We all finally get to see a smile that's been years and $$$$ in the making!

Advantages of Being an Early Bird


The early bird gets the worm and starting today gets to worship, too.

Our church meets in a gym that does not have air conditioning. Summer hours began today - worship is an hour earlier. That might not sound too bad to most people, but our mornings are hard. Our yeast symptoms are worse in the morning. I've read somewhere why that is, but I didn't write it down. I should have though so that I'd have a better answer to, "Have you tried going to bed earlier?" Being tired when we wake up is just part of it. We feel sick. We wake up even after a good night's sleep and can't believe how awful we feel. If we push hard and make ourselves get up,despite the pain and agony, it backfires on us. We end up feeling awful the whole day and not just the morning. If we gradually wake up and don't push too hard, the rest of our day goes better.

Summer hours for worship. Bummer.