Theatre Album
The only pictures I have from my involvement in theatre are ones from plays in which I actually had decent supporting roles. This means that I really don’t have that many pictures, so this album won’t last as long as the Skiiing Bear Album. In fact, this post is it. Here are the roles I’ve played and some samplings of the photos involved:
- Susan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This was the first “big” part I ever got, and boy was I excited when I saw the cast list. I was also very proud to have the very first line in the whole show (”What an exciting old mansion!”), and if you’d asked me 4 or 5 years ago, I probably could have still told you the exact number of lines I had. The only thing that unsettled me during the whole show was that I always felt like I was getting boos when I popped out of the wardrobe for curtain call. In fact, the boos I was hearing were only residual boos from the evil White Witch’s bows which were immediately before mine–at least that’s what everyone told me. At any rate, my parents and both sets of grandparents seemed to like it well-enough seeing as how they all gave me flowers on opening night. Sorry, but I don’t know who gave me which flowers. My memory’s not as good as it used to be…I don’t have any pictures of me in full costume, but I do have this one of me getting ready. Additionally I had a thick navy blue sweater which was sometimes covered with a large brown fur coat. The costuming made for a very sweaty me on stage under all the lights in the theatre with no air-conditioning.
- Nancy in Oliver!. Many, many years later I got my biggest role to date. I wasn’t able to go to the real audition, but then again, neither did any of the other major characters besides Dodger. Mom suggested the people who ended up playing Fagin and Oliver, and Bill Sykes was played by Jonathan who also wasn’t at the audition. At any rate, when I did audition, it was just me and Myra with Sonja and Mom sitting in the back of the theatre. According to Myra, she had not been able to find anyone who was the right age, could sing in a belt voice, and who could speak and sing in a decent Cockney accent. Luckily for me, I was and I could (sort-of…). The reading for the audition was the scene where Dodger and Oliver meet and the song was “Consider Yourself.” After singing, I mentioned that I had tried all of Nancy’s songs and that they were in my range. Myra’s reply was something to the effect of, “That’s what I wanted to know.” At that point, I was pretty sure I had the part. A couple of days later, I was even more certain after Mom told me that Myra had asked her if Jonathan and I would mind playing “opposite” each other. In other words, would we mind playing Bill Sykes and Nancy? Seeing as how nothing happens between Bill and Nancy besides him slapping her face, throwing her to the ground, and beating her to death, it was not a problem. So I got the part. Throughout the run of the show almost every main character, including myself, came down with a sore-throat-involving illness, but we made it through all right. Sadly, however, the one night during which I cracked was the night they were taping the show. Unfortunate. I don’t remember whether that was the night I had a 102 temperature or not… Overall, however, I think that the show was a great success mostly due to our great cast including the best Fagin ever. Again, my Grandparents liked it so what more could I ask?
- Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors. Great fun. I don’t feel like writing any more so that’s all you get.