Relax. I'm married. Look up the word.
So, it's been a long time...shouldn't have left you...without a dope beat to step to.
Sorry, I like 90's R&B. It used to be my sex soundtrack when I was single.
Don't judge. And Alliyah is dead now, so don't be disrespectful.
Anyway, sorry I haven't written much. But, the title implies that I was doing something new. I warned you about it in other entries, don't seem so shocked.
I was busy.
The theater proved to be a mostly positive experience for me. And despite my early apprehensions, it was fun. I don't regret it and a certainly glad that I finally put on my big girl panties and did it. They are the ones embroidered with the days of the week, and no stains. I'm a big girl now.
I could wax poetic about all of the experience with great, illustrious, descriptive words and give you the visceral tour. But, really I just want to talk about why it was so special to me without all of the pretentious bullshit.
It was the people.
I had been warned about "drama folk" for a good long time. And that the name didn't just foreshadow the drama of the theater...but drama Queens and Kings can actually be dramatic. (Shocking, I know) And not filled with good drama, but negative drama. Divas, primadonnas, and contrarian know-it-alls abound.
But, I thought initially, whatever...I'm scrappy, bring it.
And while I am sure that those people and those things 100% DO exist....I didn't have that experience.
Maybe I got lucky. Or maybe it was some trick to lure my plebeian ass BACK for more later. You know...give me the fever and this pulling desire to do every show my local scene cranks out. Kinda like the casinos. They draw you in with a thousand dollar slot win, knowing full well you will put that shit right back in and pull out your credit card to keep going.
Drama pushers, if you will.
Well, other than life BLOOD (caffeine) and legal chemicals (cigarettes) and donuts-I'm no junkie, and I found my cast-mates to be some of the most wonderful, down to earth, kind, generous, and genuine people I have ever encountered.
Spending years around speech folk-a close cousin to theater folk, and musicians, I have found this to be a heady mix of 60% asses, and 40% otherwise cool people. So, the horror stories once told to me, I had assumed would be true-
I was wrong. Shutup. It happens occasionally.
The veterans were great. Offering guidance without judgment. Direction without malice, or eye-rolls. The newbies were equally great, and there were a lot of us. A great deal more than I expected. I definitely didn't feel alone in that pursuit. There were people who had never done theater, and there were people like me, who hadn't done it in years and just returned, and the babies-or the kids...who were really-mostly kids. But, a group of talented little shits, with great attitudes and eager to please attitudes.
And the teens...well, I work with them normally-so that was a treat for me. Getting to know all of them, and their collective stories. Teens are awesome and get a bad rap for the most part. I find them wonderful.
The experienced actors were also nice. There's always ego, sure. We all have it-people with the acting bug do what they do for one large reason and many small ones. The big one is always...to get that ego stroked like a virgin on prom night.
But, even with ego...no one seemed overly catty or big for their britches.
Everyone was truly great. No exaggeration.
I have some new found lifetime friends and the review of my mad acting skills were all positive. Of course, most of those were friends and family so they may have been being polite...but I didn't feel any falseness, therein.
A few of my family didn't particularly care for the play itself. It was perceived as avant-garde. But, most of my friends and family aren't what anyone would call typical theater goers...so that review was to be expected.
There were five really good moments throughout.
1. When my big brother was at opening night-he poked at my husband while watching my scenes and said: That's my sister up there. My husband said he was beaming. That was a tear-worthy moment, no doubt.
2. My husband said I was really good. And not just "I'm your husband and I would like sex this week ass kissing good" He said I was genuinely good up there. And he said...he cried a little. Aww.
3. My son watched me, and was proud and excited for me. And that's a lot for his jaded 17 year old self these days. I'm pretty sure his emotion was real.
And
4. I got to know one of my graduated speechies better. I didn't get the opportunity to bond with her initially, because we didn't work together much. But, I am so glad she did this show and I finally did get some time with her. She is a great young woman. Insightful, thoughtful, sweet, super smart, and so stinkin' talented-among other qualities. I feel bad that I let her slip through the cracks while coaching (sorta) but...I am glad to see the awesome woman she is becoming. I'm privileged to know her.
5. Speaking of my speechies...some came to see me. And that was awesome in itself.
Oh and, I got to eat pizza and donuts. But that's an unofficial really good moment.
Beyond all of that-it was a lot of time demand. Hubby was impatient some weeks. We were definitely off of our regular schedule. But, when he saw the outcome-he was happy and pleased.
So all's well in Noeland.
I also learned a great deal. I know the process now, and I know what to expect as far as the work demand, and the constant vigilance in getting better for every performance. I memorized well...which was always my main concern. I never was great at rote memorization-so I surprised myself there.
I'm so glad I did it. Period.
Will I do it again? Yeah, probably. When I find a play that I really want to be a part of. I'd like a bigger part...not sure about a lead role. But, more stage time maybe and dependent on my memory allowance and the time demand.
I won't be singing, before you ask.
Cats. Being. Tortured.
Or
Cats. Copulating.
Either way, it doesn't sound good, kids.
I think it took me 4 days to recover on sleep-and I know I gained 5 lbs eating the surplus of candy and chips at rehearsal, and I got zits from all of the makeup I am not used to wearing, and I had to wear pantyhose for 6 days, and I had to hand over the planning of my annual Halloween party to my husband. BUT...once I stopped my little bitch whining about anything that was stupidly inconvenient...all I could do was smile because I finally did it.
And because there were the faces of so many proud family starting up at me on stage and the high fives, and hugs, and offered cigarettes and awesome inside jokes and pizza and...everything else-there was little to complain about. Totally off par for me, cause I bitch a lot.
Just taking something positive away from it. Truth be told, I'd be hard pressed to take anything but.
I'm still fat, btw.
My cholesterol was higher on my last blood test.
But the A1C was great.
So balance in the universe has been restored.
Sorta.
And just so you don't think my evil side is slipping- in my next entry I'll tell you all about how I literally had two different instances of almost beating up two elderly people in the last two weeks.
Nope, not kidding.
Trust me, they both had it coming.
Stay tuned.
I'm a lot of things, but not a liar.
-XOXO
Jim's Mom.
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