Wednesday 30 March 2011

cue Bugs Bunny theme....now

Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart
Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh, what heights we'll hit
On with the show, this is it!




Opening night

Everything that can be done has been done - at least that is what they tell me

All of the hours of planning, scheming, blocking, dancing, singing, building, painting, etc have finally come to an end.  I remember thinking many times how much I just wished it was all over.  That was when I was just obsessing over the overwhelming sense of not being successful.  Now, here I am, on the eve of opening night...actually the morn - insomnia in full effect...knowing that it will all soon be over.  Strangely, this makes me sad.

Whenever I do a "project" like this, I can't help but feel a kind of motherly connection to it.  It's like going through labour and birth.  It hurts like crazy to bring it to life, but then when it is finally here... that feeling of unbelievable....bliss.  There is nothing like it.

I didn't love this play when we first started.  I had committed to it, however, so I just kept plugging away...kind of like a surprise pregnancy (going with the whole birth analogy thing).  But then there's that moment - in a split second - you realize that you are in love with it.

In love with the miracle of taking a stack of paper and breathing life into it.  Watching it take its first steps and seeing it grow into something magical.

Oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it!

Sunday 20 March 2011

The life of a drama queen

I was recently asked why I ever decided to get into this whole drama thing.  My usual responses have been "Well, I just love making people happy"....or
"It is such a great creative outlet for me"...or
"I like being busy"
 
Okay, well, those are the "correct answers"

Here is the real answer

I like  the glory

Yup, plain and simple.  It has taken me nigh unto 50 years to figure this out about myself (although I am pretty sure that most of those around me have known it for some time) - I like it when people like me.  I totally got it when Sally Field gave the infamous Oscar speech, "You like me, you really like me".  I can relate to that...so sue me  * little nod to one of the great songs of Guys and Dolls *

Right now I am sitting in a quiet house, on a rare quiet Sunday afternoon, just pondering the next few days of what I know will be one really crazy ride and I LOVE IT!

I invite all of you to this amazing small town production that is BIG on talent.  Honestly, you will be BLOWN away by what can come out of this place...This cast, crew, carpenters, seamstresses, dancers, choreographers, light and sound techies...are INCREDIBLE!!

Come and find out for yourself!  Tickets are available at Video Hut and IGA - or call me...

Friday 11 March 2011

Colombia - the postlude

So I have been back from Colombia for almost 2 weeks now and I still haven't sat down and written anything about it.  It's not that I haven't tried.  I have sat at my laptop and started and deleted at least half a dozen attempts but I just haven't been able to really put my thoughts into a cohesive collection.

I have been to Bogota four times now.  It's funny - I actually am starting to know my way around that crazy gargantuan city.  We stayed at a Baptist Guest house our first year, and another one the past 2 years.  This year we returned to the original Guest house and when we were about 2 blocks away I said, "oh this is where we turn to our house".  Sure enough... we turned and we were home.  Even I was a little freaked out.  I guess it is becoming kind of like home.

Everyone asks, so, how was Colombia.  What a loaded question.  Do you have an hour...or 50?  It was... indescribable.  I know that every year I say it, but I have to say it again... it was the BEST trip there - ever.

I am struggling again with my thoughts - so I will share some pictures.  These are just a few of the over 3000 pictures that were taken by me and others in the team.  I hope you will be able to see the heart of my Colombia through these beautiful faces.  The song that is playing with them became kind of a theme song for our team while we were there.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything i am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity...

Dios te bendiga!