"On With the Show, This is It!"

The last time I performed on stage in a theatre production was 1994 in 'Anything Goes' at Greenville Little Theatre as a chorus member. 'Cabaret' in 1993 at URI was the last show in which I had a lead role. Owning the stage with the spotlight shining in my eyes is my guilty pleasure. There's nothing like the rush right before going on stage and hearing the director yell "Places!" I learned in college though, a career in theatre was not in my future. My skin is not thick enough. However, my desire to perform was never completely squelched.

Having children afforded me the opportunity to perform daily for them. I'd become a different character, complete with accent, every day driving them to school. We'd sing silly songs throughout the house. They now are quite adept at the "In what other movies has that actor played?" I have no one to blame but myself for their dramatic ways, and verve for center stage.

When I learned about the Suzhou Amateur Dramatics Society and their annual show, I thought, "What the heck? It might be fun to don the theatrical hat again". This year's production was 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'...Panto-style. What is Panto? A question I asked myself. Slapstick comedy, audience participation, men playing women and women playing men, all spun together with British humour was what I deduced. A genre I was not familiar with AT ALL. Oh, well, I auditioned anyways and was cast as Queen Evilynn, Snow White's stepmother (major liberties are taken with the story line, but the basic premise is the same). I am the villian. The villian! The one the audience boos and hisses at whenever on stage. Wait! I wanted the applause not the jeers...what had I gotten myself into?

For the past two months, we have rehearsed once a week for a couple of hours. Somehow, we managed to turn chaos into comedy...or at least I hope we have. I don't have any pictures yet. Tonight, the show opens. All three performances are sold out or close to it. Butterflies are in full force in my stomach. Larry has never seen me perform on stage. The only times he's heard me sing is kareoke and in church. This will also be the first performance my parents have missed. So, I'm dedicating my return to the stage to all them as I hope to make them proud...and not completely mortified.