Displaced Beachbums

Throughout the entire 2.5 hour audition, I sat on the edge of my chair with sweaty palms and a dry mouth. I was a bundle of nerves. Me ~ the one everyone refers to as cool, calm and collected. What was the cause of all this angst? Would you believe an audition for Jack and the Beanstalk? FG was trying out for a part in the play and, because I knew how badly she wanted to be in it, I was on pins and needles for her. She was fine, but I was the one worried about how disappointed she would be if she didn’t get selected for any part. I had already heard from another mom that her daughter didn’t get picked last year and there were lots of tears. Guess they don’t call it DRAMA for nothing!

There were a couple of times during the audition process I so wanted to run up and coach FG on what to say and how to say it. It was difficult but I restrained myself. As I sat in the freezing theater, I thought about all those “stage moms” and how I might be a little more sympathetic toward them now. In the past, I thought they were quite loony.

In the end, she got selected for the part of the Ballerina ~ didn’t you know there was a ballerina in Jack and the Beanstalk? Oh yeah, it’s a musical, too. She doesn’t have a speaking part, but I was so relieved she wasn’t put in with the jumping beans which was basically the catch-all for someone who didn’t get a part.

Jack and the Beanstalk is being produced by The Missoula Children’s Theater which I hadn’t heard of before I got here. Listen up, Army MWR ~ the Air Force MWR hires this company to go to their overseas bases for ONE week during the summer to put on a show. They have one week from start to finish. I am very impressed with the professionalism and organization of the two women charged with putting on this production. All 52 of the children, including those helping behind stage, are having a great time and the short time-frame for getting ready has kept them focused. All the costumes/props are provided by the company so there are no costs to the parents.

Tomorrow is showtime and I will no doubt be nervous for FG. Unfortunately, I just got a call from FM and his plane was delayed so he won’t make his Guam connection. This puts him back an entire day and it’s unlikely he’ll make it back in time for curtain call. 😦 There are strict instructions about no cameras but, hmm, I wonder if I can sneak in my video camera….