This last weekend, I performed in my first high school production; as one of the stars of the show. I played Lilli Vanessi/ Katherine Minola in Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate." Up until this point, I had never had any real acting experience and I wasn't a great dancer, but I could sing. I was thrown into the theater community with a few pointers and then *wham* it was opening night, but strangely I wasn't scared. I knew my lines, I knew my songs, I knew where to go when, and I had found that being on strange felt natural. I had my fellow actors around me whom I could depend on to know where they were going and what they had to do, so all I had to do was step into this other part of myself that wasn't really me; it was a 1940's movie star diva with a fiery temper.
Opening night came and went; then Friday, then Saturday matinee, and finally it was the closing show and I wasn't ready to go. I found that I was already dreading the fact that I wouldn't be running down first floor hallway on Monday afternoon yelling "HOLD THAT ELEVATOR!!!" as my friends in the elevator smirked and pretended to close the door; I was dreading the fact that I wouldn't have to sit through an hours worth of notes from the previous days rehearsal as we attempted to get started; I was dreading the fact that I wouldn't have to put on that awful wig again (okay, maybe I wasn't dreading this, but it definately crossed my mind that this was the last time I would have to wear it).
But most of all I was dreading the fact that I would no longer be spending 2+ hours with bunch of my new-found friends every day. I realized that when we got back to the real world and when I didn't have rehearsals with them every day, I probably wouldn't talk to them as much, or laugh with them as much, or spend as much time with them. It's not that I didn't want to, it's just when you're not with someone for a significant chunk of time each day, you suddenly find that you don't have as much to talk about, or that your other friends (who you probably hadn't talked to as much when you were in the musical) had lots to say to you again. I've found this scenario to be true during sports seasons as well. During volleyball, I talk the most with the rest of the volleyball team; during basketball, my team is my family; during soccer, which is a sports team I'm not on, I find that I spend more time with other people who aren't on the soccer team. Nobody does it on purpose, but regardless, it happens.
I suppose that this parting after the musical is especially hard because a majority of these people are seniors who will be graduating in a little over a month. It's sad to think that these wonderful people have been in the same hallways of Uni as I have for the past 4 years, but that I'm just getting to know them as they're about to leave. I'll end this whirlwind of a blog post (from musicals to friendship to partings all in 1 post!) with something that one of these seniors said one time. He said something along the lines of, "Life is a journey, not a destination, so make sure you enjoy it on your way." I guess I'll just have to enjoy them while they are still here!
Peace to all and stay safe!
Opening night came and went; then Friday, then Saturday matinee, and finally it was the closing show and I wasn't ready to go. I found that I was already dreading the fact that I wouldn't be running down first floor hallway on Monday afternoon yelling "HOLD THAT ELEVATOR!!!" as my friends in the elevator smirked and pretended to close the door; I was dreading the fact that I wouldn't have to sit through an hours worth of notes from the previous days rehearsal as we attempted to get started; I was dreading the fact that I wouldn't have to put on that awful wig again (okay, maybe I wasn't dreading this, but it definately crossed my mind that this was the last time I would have to wear it).
But most of all I was dreading the fact that I would no longer be spending 2+ hours with bunch of my new-found friends every day. I realized that when we got back to the real world and when I didn't have rehearsals with them every day, I probably wouldn't talk to them as much, or laugh with them as much, or spend as much time with them. It's not that I didn't want to, it's just when you're not with someone for a significant chunk of time each day, you suddenly find that you don't have as much to talk about, or that your other friends (who you probably hadn't talked to as much when you were in the musical) had lots to say to you again. I've found this scenario to be true during sports seasons as well. During volleyball, I talk the most with the rest of the volleyball team; during basketball, my team is my family; during soccer, which is a sports team I'm not on, I find that I spend more time with other people who aren't on the soccer team. Nobody does it on purpose, but regardless, it happens.
I suppose that this parting after the musical is especially hard because a majority of these people are seniors who will be graduating in a little over a month. It's sad to think that these wonderful people have been in the same hallways of Uni as I have for the past 4 years, but that I'm just getting to know them as they're about to leave. I'll end this whirlwind of a blog post (from musicals to friendship to partings all in 1 post!) with something that one of these seniors said one time. He said something along the lines of, "Life is a journey, not a destination, so make sure you enjoy it on your way." I guess I'll just have to enjoy them while they are still here!
Peace to all and stay safe!
Great post! It makes me want to join a musical. I feel as though y voice could really add to the performance.Jk, but seriously now I thought you did a really good job in the play and, to someone who has never really been in a play, you gave a nice account of the experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I definitely miss the camaraderie found during the musical with new friends. I'll miss all of the things that you'll miss as well. It's a shame we won't have the seniors next year. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteI really like this post. It's deep without being overly sentimental, it's very well done! Like Abby said, it also makes me want to join a musical next year. Too bad I can't sing...
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :D
My feelings exactly. The show certainly had its bad moments, but none of that mattered once the last performance finished. I wanted to do it all again! I love theatre, and I love all my theatre friends. It really is a great community.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, and excellent job in your first show! :D
Ha, as a junior last year I had the same feeling concerning some seniors that I began to know better.
ReplyDeleteThis post is a good implicit argument for joining clubs and trying new activities in general, though personality is always a factor;
when such connections come to a close, the contradictory bittersweetness can be too potent for some.
Great post! You capture the sadness of a show ending well. I was in theater in high school, and I often felt that way after a play weekend was done. It was especially hard after my first show, when I was saying goodbye to seniors I knew I wouldn't see anymore (since I was a mere freshman and unlikely to keep in touch with them.) I will say, though, that my current best friend is someone I met in a play my junior year, and we still keep in touch even though she lives in New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job in the play, by the way. But I like your hair better than your Katherine wig :)
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ReplyDeleteI should have said you "capture well the sadness of a show ending" rather than "capture the sadness of a show ending well." (There's nothing sad about a show ending well!)
ReplyDeleteI always thought that the stage is would be like an illegal substance. Having never tried an illegal substance I can't confirm this but from what I've seen: People may be hesitant to try it at first, and the process may be a little nerve-wrecking, but the high is insane! Then the crash sucks. It's too bad your first Uni Musical had to be your last one!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I had similar feelings about participating in Studprod last fall. It was also my first time acting and it was an overall wonder experience that I was sad to see end. Uni High theater is awesome, clearly.
ReplyDeleteGood job S. The musical was fun and I hope you have similar experiences in the future :]
ReplyDeleteThis is a really sweet post, and I think the musical can be used as a symbol for a lot of new friends this year. I've gotten to know some seniors better this year just from being in jr./sr. pe, english classes, and gender studies, but during this time of year, you realize that they're leaving!
ReplyDeleteSorry, that made little sense, but you get the point. It was also originally your point, so of course you'd get it. :D
Good post btw!