Last night I sent the cast list to all the actors. Just before I pressed "send" I winced. I was thinking perhaps this is the year when kids will all like their parts. I know they won't all be delighted, but I also know that they will step into their roles and give us their best. Will tells me, "The actors are at hand; and, by their show, You shall know all that you are like to know." I nod, he winks, and I know he's right. After our young actors spend time and thought on their parts they learn to love them.
So the weekend was kind of hard for the kids, waiting is not something young people do with a lot of patience. Over the past two days a few kids sent me cryptic emails letting me know which parts they thought they might like. Three of them came to my door with fresh-baked cookies on a plate and offered them to me. I invited them in and we had a wonderful visit talking and laughing about things and then one of them turned to me and said,"So, who do you think Puck will be?" It was very cute, these little cookie-fairies trying to charm the cast list out of me. I smiled, most seriously, and told them I wasn't sure.
Now they all know who Puck is, or I should say, who the Pucks are, as I split the role in half and we cast it with two talented dancers. I also added a fiddling elf to the script as we have a young man who plays violin. I created three narrators; Philostrate, who is in the original and then Philomena and Patience. They have the job of bridging the play to the audience. I made them the wedding planners because as the play opens Theseus, the Duke, and Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, are planning to be married. "Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword And won thy love...But I will wed thee in another key, With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling." That's where the wedding planners come in.
There will be lots of music and dancing. This year we have three musicans who compose the music and play the score during the show. Right now, the kids can only imagine this year's production but starting Febuary 20th rehearsals begin and when we step onto the stage we know anything is possible. The empty stage, like out-stretched cupped-hands, embraces the world of potential. Let the Dream Begin!
3 comments:
Oh, I remember those days! So excruciating to wait! But I agree with you, sometimes the best part you could possibly get is the one you didn't even know you wanted . . . ;-)
Three musicians this year? :D Who might the third be?
Ted Lindland, Greg's brother. A wonderful musician who plays a number of instruments!
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