forever young

"That's not quite right, you know." 

What's that you say?

"In the play tonight. Drinking the spring water didn't make them forever young. It made them forever the age they were when they first drank it. That's why when 'Jessie' saw that 'Winnie' was about to drink from it, he stopped her."

Oh, you're talking about "Tuck Everlasting", the play at Savannah Children's Theatre.

"Correct. Is that not what your post title referred to?"

Kinda sorta. I actually took that phrase verbatim from retired police officer 'Arthur Dales'. When speaking to 'Mulder', he said, "Baseball keeps you forever young." I took that as a fitting reason to have watched "The Unnatural" when I got home last night from the play. That made it not a coincidence that I chose to finally watch that episode I'd recorded a couple of months ago.

"Right place, right time. Yes, I see the correlation, but the play posed a deep question. That's why you decided to see it after all, as you've had some serious health issues with your heart since you last saw it in October of 2018."

That's right. That was 6 years ago and all was well and I was recently retired. Savannah Stage Company performed it then, with Taylor Rigsbee as the 10-year-old 'Winnie' and Carson Schem as 'Jessie'. I remember it well, even though I never wrote about it.

"How odd. You seem to write about everything now!"

I know it must seem that way. It wasn't until fb reminded me of a post I left there about it that I realized I had no written record here of having gone. That's not to say I don't recall the play, though. I have definite memories of that story and the questions it raised. Would I choose immortality, knowing it meant I would see all who I loved age and die? My answer back then had been a resounding "No". If I were to become immortal, it would be because immortality was thrust upon me, as it was for the Tucks, as it had been for the title character in "The Age Of Adaline". None of them had the option to choose that path in life. None of them even knew they were immortal until they realized that years had passed and they were not aging.

"Yes, the townspeople actually brought it to the Tucks' attention, accusing them of sorcery. Sure, they were up in the home of Adirondack bluegrass, and the year was 1793 when they drank the spring's water. That meant it was early 1800's when folks around there noticed none of them changed. 'Miles' was a 22-year-old husband of two small children; they changed and grew, but he remained the same. His oldest was only 7 when his parents moved away from that town, taking their sons, 'Miles' and 'Jessie' with them."

That's exactly what I was saying. The immortal ones had to leave ones they loved who had remained mortal.

"Well, they could have taken others to the spring, let them drink, too."

Why would 'Miles' want his children to remain their ages forever? Because that's the way it would work. Their minds would grow and change with their new experiences, but their bodies and appearance would be forever that of little children. That's like that movie last month with the little girl who was turned into a vampire. Not being able to grow into a woman made her become bitter and even turned her against her Sire.

"Oh, that's right! And she had been about the same age as 'Winnie'. Come to think of it, 'Winnie Foster' was the same age as your twin great-nieces."

Correct. So, even forever-17 'Jessie' knew that it would be wrong to just let her drink from the spring without first letting her know what that would mean for her life. That's why he took her to his mom. 'Winnie' had not believed him when he said he was 104, because he still looked 17. She would not accept that 87 years had passed with him not aging.

"In her defense, it was 1880 when they met. She lived in a small mountain town where life moved slowly. She met 'Jessie' when she ran away to the nearby copse of woods near her Granny's home. She thought he was just a teenage boy until he started throwing all that math at her. She didn't know he was being honest with her. Then she met his parents and brother and realized they were telling the truth. The Tucks knew that she was too young to drink that special water, as she would be trapped forever in the 10-year-old body she currently had."

Yes. But, before the Tucks left town this time, 'Jessie' gave the girl a vial of the water. He wanted her to drink it when she turned 17 so the two of them could live out eternity forever young. At the time, she promised him she would.

"Yes, but did she keep that promise?"

Again, in her defense, she was a 10-year-old girl in 1880. Her best friend was a toad that lived in the garden. She used the vial of water to save its life when it was attacked by a neighbor's dog. I can certainly see Leila or Alyssa doing the same thing to save the life of a pet or another animal.

"Point made. But why didn't she refill the bottle from the spring?"

Who knows? Perhaps she couldn't find the spring again. Perhaps she simply forgot about it. Perhaps she had intended to refill the bottle when she got older, but was unable to do so. Perhaps she fell in love and forgot about 'Jessie'. We don't know. And the Tucks did not return to that little town for 70 years. They missed seeing her again by two years. They would not have known what happened in her life had it not been for the tombstone, which proclaimed her as a beloved "wife, mother, and grandmother".

"Oh, poor 'Jessie'!"

I'm sure he was fine. I know the actor, Trey Wilner, gave me a big hug after the show.

"Is that him in the two photographs? Wearing the overalls and hat?"

Yes, it is, and that's 'Winnie', played by Isabel Hollingsworth, there with him. I told him I was very impressed with how well they captured the joy of life, as well as the responsibility of knowing they had to protect others from their immortality. I should have asked if he was already 17 or not.

"That would have been interesting. I'm sure none of the others would have had the chance to play their age in this piece."

That's true. This was done with no adults, just students. Lila Allen and Eli Chapman did beautifully well as the parents, who would have been forever in their late 30's or early 40's, well aware of the immensity of being suddenly immortal. Hailey Morris played the other brother, having once known the responsibility and joy of being a parent. I thought Hailey did well at incorporating that loss into 'Miles'.

"Indeed he did. They all had that extra depth that you wouldn't expect from teens."

Not true. I know that well, as I see it with every performance there at the SavChTh, as well as at the other schools where I go for theatrical entertainment. I've posted this show, as well as the one from SavArtsAcad, on my fb page, to encourage others. I've even recommended the musical from SavStageCo in that post! I do hope folks will see all three, as I have. Nothing like hearing others' stories to bring understanding to your own.

to the moon, Alice!

Oh, my, how I laughed and laughed at that line!!!

It was nearly the end of the play, and Uncle Fester has a rocket strapped to his back.

When the mother of Wednesday's boyfriend asks him where he's going, that line was his reply.

Honestly, I just busted out laughing and had to make myself stop!

After all, I doubt if any of the parents would have recognized Ralph's oft-repeated line from "The Honeymooners", but I grew up with Jackie Gleason on the TV.

Plus, that late-night show is often my nightcap before bed on Sundays.

Yes, I was definitely right place, right time, with this musical!

I'm so glad I threw myself out of the house to go see it.

 

"The Addams Family" was at Savannah Country Day, a place I associate with Barbara.

I'd even invited Sandy to come see the middle school musical with me, but she declined.

So, I'd taken myself to it...

and found a familiar name on the program.

Henry Dickerson was there, too, running the soundboard this time instead of lights.

Nice.

I hadn't realized I would also know someone on the stage, but I did!

See the boy in the black suit?

That's Emmett Witchel, as Gomez Addams, holding hands with Morticia Addams.

As soon as I saw him, I flashed back to this summer!

He had worn that same suit in "Bravo, Broadway!", when I'd first noticed him.

That SavChTh summer camp really paid off!

He was definitely one of the most confident and most natural actors this time around!

Yes, I'll be keeping on eye on him as he progresses in his acting roles.

I am so very glad I left home on this drizzly night!

This 75-minute bit of fun was exactly what I needed to bring out the sun!

 

Then I came home to Sam of "Ghosts", wanting to be in a musical.

And which one was it?

No, not "The Addams Family", silly.

It was "Anything Goes"!

I saw that one six years ago, having found out in Jinhi's fb post that it was playing and that her niece, Lillian "Sushi" Soucy, was in it.

So, back to the TV show: Did the innkeeper get the part"

Yes, with Alberta's coaching, she got the role she'd wanted to play in high school!

How very cool that I was home in time for this musical, too.

i thank You, God!

frenchie and the beast

Musical in the morning!

Musical in the afternoon!

I wonder if I'll be treated to a musical tonight?

We'll see!

Tony and Laura's new TV plan has an incredible inventory that I've hardly begun to sample.

I know Dane won't care as long as he gets his evening treat of doggy ice cream!

Today began with another GOB musical at Asbury Memorial and this one was a long time favorite that I've eagerly anticipated: "Grease"!!!

From the backdrop - a rendition of Savannah Arts Academy, standing in for the show's "Rydell High School" - to the musical numbers, it lived up to the hype!

I'd already heard the choir sing "We Go Together" at the karaoke night. 

They performed that twice today!

Even so, this one - "Beauty School Drop-Out" - was hands down my favorite!

Sure, having the Gretchen Greene Dancers there for "Born To Hand Jive" was lots of fun, as they are quite an energetic bunch.

But the young woman playing 'Frenchie' stayed in character for the entire service, and that was quite impressive!

Plus, I always liked 'Frenchie', as she was such a sweet girl, even if she was the most "mixed-up non-delinquent on the block", as 'Teen Angel' called her in this scene.

Truly was wonderful!

Plus, we ended the day with "The Trees Of The Field" - sweet!!!

 

My next event was the matinee performance of "Beauty And The Beast" at SavChTh.

Sure, I knew it was sold-out before I even went, but I also know they try to not ever turn anyone away if they show up in person.

And, guess what?

I got a seat!

Sweet!

However, that's not my photo, and that isn't my hand, either.

Danielle Houston took that shot when she and Thomas went last night.

Still, that's the typical pic I would have taken, so I borrowed it from her fb page!

I was seated too far up, and with too many intervening others, to have taken such a fine photograph.

How was the musical?

Well, it's only been six years since I last saw it.

Danielle was in that 2018 performance, as one of the town wenches 

eager for Gaston's attentions.

Somehow, I kept flashing back to that version during this one.

Not that Joel Cadoff's 'Beast' wasn't magnificent... because he was.

Not that Chris Bass and Daniel Malone didn't shine as 'Cogsworth'

and 'Lumiere'... because they did.

Not that Matt Myles wasn't absolutely perfect as the muscle-bound

'Gaston'... because he was a total hunk!

Not that Saree Fioravanti wasn't spot-on delightful as 'Belle'...

because her and her voice were quite lovely.

I think it was because I felt lost in the crowd, way up high, in the dark.

I'll have to be more mindful of that in the future.

... and tigers and bears, oh my!

Actually, my bag of animal crackers contained quite a menagerie!

There was a lion, as well as a zebra, an elephant, and several buffalo.

However, by the time I thought to set some aside for this post, those were all eaten.

I was left with a tiger, a bear, and a koala.

(smile!)

Did I have reason for choosing that snack rather than some other?

Yes, yes, I did!

I was at the Savannah Children's Theatre for a matinee that I'd almost foregone.

Just why was that?

They billed "Frederick" as a 'family show' that was suitable for small children.

Small kids, eh?

Then I researched it and found out it was a musical.

Hey, those plays are my jam, right?

Right!

And the story of the five little mice was actually quite entertaining!

I even went up to nervous Nellie, Baby, Ernest, and Sunny after the show to talk about one of the songs that Ernest sang.

He was an inventor and he developed a gadget to help ration their food during the winter.

That gadget was full of "Bells And Whistles" which he sang of enthusiastically!

It truly was a tune that made me laugh...

and brought to mind "Razzle Dazzle", the song the lawyer sang in "Chicago"...

which Ernest (Alexander Goldstein) and Sunny (Ajae Michele) agreed with!!!

They said they had caught the similarity three weeks ago during rehearsal!

Marvelous!

Right place, right time, for me to be there on that holiday weekend!

(smile!)

summer kids film festival: wrap up

The Summer Kids Film Festival began for me on June 12.

That's when I watched "Despicable Me" and "Shark Tale", starting things off with a double header, courtesy of Peacock.

I'd planned to see that first one with my first niece and her two little blondes, plus Michael's twins, but they weren't done with school after all.

That's okay, as it allowed me to watch, for free, at home, the first offering of the NCG Summer Camp 2024 (NCGSC) and the second film of the Tybee Post Theater's Summer Of Sea Adventures (SOSA).

Thus, I have two done, out of 24 possible from the Chatham County cinemas offering Summer Kids movies.

(I'm including the AMC Summer Movie Camp [AMCSMC] listings, even though none of them will be screening in Savannah this year.)

That's a good start!

(smile!)

The next week I again watched the movies at home, as Peacock gave me NCGSC's "Shrek 2" and Comcast rewarded me a while back with SOSA's "The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water", so I again saved the $12 I'd have paid for both tickets.

The third week saw me seeing double on the two films!

 

I actually went to the NCG cinema twice to see "How To Train Your Dragon" - I do so love that Viking movie!!! - and then I watched SOSA's "Surf's Up" twice (courtesy of a Comcast $1 Movie Night reward) because that surfing teen penguin was just too cool!!!

Seriously, I highly recommend it!

I even told my HVJ friend Robb Worthington about it, on fb, as he is constantly posting about his wave-riding jaunts over in England.

(smile!)

I finished out June with the NCGSC blast from the past: "The Land Before Time".

I'm so glad Christina and her girls came to town for that, too!

Total SKFF flicks for June were 7 out of 24.

Onward!

I stepped up my game for July, thanks to Peacock having many of those listed in the AMCSMC, which allowed me to watch 5 of their 8 selections.

Those were: "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" as part of the 4th of July weekend; "Despicable Me 2" and "Despicable Me 3" back to back for a needed distraction; with "Migration" and "The Secret Life Of Pets" bookending that double header.

That was good, as the only other one from the AMC list was "Sing 2", which was seen with the first niece and the two blondes on our Kissimmee vacation.

What about the other two cinemas' flicks?

I finished up the four on the NCGSC in July as well, seeing three of them "live" at the cinema, though solo: "Trolls Band Together" (seen last fall as well), "Abominable" (not seen since five years ago), and "Kung Fu Panda" (which always, always, makes me smile).

The one missed while we were on our Kissimmee vacation was "Migration", the one about ducks flying south.

I know there must be a joke in there somewhere...

since we had all gone south, too...

but I just can't get the pieces together quickly enough.

Anyway, I watched it upon our return, courtesy of Peacock.

(smile!)

That leaves only the SOSA films, doesn't it, and those were seen from three sources.

"Finding Nemo" was screened at the Lucas, so that's where I went.

"James And The Giant Peach" was seen as a summer camp musical at SavChTh.

 

Then, as the lone SKFF movie seen this month, "Muppet Treasure island" was watched for $1 as a Comcast 'movie night' reward that was about to expire.

For those keeping tally, that was 7 in June, 12 in July, and 1 in August.

That sum makes twenty films in my Summer Kids Film Festival!

There were only four that I missed, but that's okay - there's always next summer!

(smile!)

Ken, what are nerf guns, cowbell, armadillo, and knishes?

"Who is Ken?"

 

He's the new host of "Jeopardy". Well, most of the time, anyway.

 

"Okay. That clears up one question I had, but not the other."

 

Wondering about that post title?

 

"Oh, you betcha."

 

"The 24 Hour Plays: Savannah" was held tonight and so the answer would have to be "Items which appeared onstage at the Savannah Children's Theatre".

 

"Whoa. There was an actual armadillo???"

 

Of course not, silly rabbit. It was represented in balloon animal form, in several colors, in the third play, "Escape The Drama". That was written by the Kamerons' neighbors, Chris and Molly Bass. Chris even played the Clue Master of the escape room. 

"That sounds like it was a lot of fun!"

I think I would have liked it much better a couple of weeks ago, when life was not smacked so hard by the deaths of two I knew.

"What death did it have in it??"

The death of a childhood pet, Skippy the armadillo, when the two women in the escape room had been teens and were close friends. The animal's death had sundered that friendship.

"That's a far cry from what happened with Barbara and Kal, though. So, you should cut that play some slack."

Here's the thing: it wasn't the only one that dealt with death. The play festival opened with "Bird's-Eye View" about death and funerals, and closed with "Elephants & Flowers" about death and suicide. Plus, the two to either side of the escape room had guns in them.

"Really? Why were those plays all so dark?"

I don't know. And, try as I might, I could not determine what the plays had to have in common. This isn't my first time around 24 Hour Play Festivals, as I've been supporting them since 2011. My favorite is still the one from 2017, when all of the plays had to include the line, "Thank you, JinHi" - totally awesome! For the five tonight, though, I could not pluck the unifying thread.

"And you're an analytical chemist, so finding a pattern is your thing."

Exactly.

"Did Ryan McCurdy have a play involved? I know he's the one who invited you to this."

No, he did not. He is with Savannah Performance Alliance, which includes folks from SavRepTh, SavStageCo, SavCabaret, and SavChTh. Those are the troupes that survived the pandemic, so it's heartening to see them working together. Thomas Houston wrote one, as did Rick Garman. Jayme Tinti directed one. So, it was good to see some carryover of talent from the previous play festivals.

 

"Garman? He's the "p is silent" guy, right?"

 

Correct. His play was the last one, "Elephants & Flowers", with a guy perched on a 20th-floor ledge of an apartment to commit suicide. The crazy old lady neighbor manages to talk him in with a promise of fresh knishes. It was actually pretty nice.

 

"That's good to hear. You thinking of giving his Club One productions another try?"

 

Maybe, we'll see. Money's a bit tight, right, since the vacation and I have house insurance coming up due with AllState.

 

"Yes, dear. What did Thomas write? You've always liked his stuff."

 

Yes, and I laughed several times during "His Dark Secret". That starred Rayshawn Roberts as a man who has taken his g'friend to his "cave lair" to tell her that he is the 'Golden Gun'. That's when he shows her this huge nerf gun than turns things into gold! That was funny. Then the Mistress Diablo surprises them, and she has an even bigger nerf gun. Seriously, you would have had to have been there.

"I would have greatly enjoyed that! What about the one with Jayme?"

Well, she directed it, as was really obvious, given the fast pacing of so many of the SavStageCo performances. That was "The Case of the Tenacious Thief" which featured a London apartment owned by a guy named Moneybags, who loved his cowbell and could talk like Christopher Walken. I kid you not! He's entertaining a lady friend when McThief comes in, with lots of pratfalls, and steals that cowbell. Really funny piece, it was! But everyone had a gun, even though they were nerf guns. I know, I know, the timing for this playfest was just not the best for me.

"Trust me, things will get better. It just takes time."

Don't I know it. I have far too much experience with grief and loss adjustment.

thanks, Dane, for the musical about a peach

He knew it was something I'd looked forward to this summer, so, when I'd shown up unexpectedly on his porch, he didn't encourage me to stay with him.

Instead, when I had opened the door after almost an hour, he came out briefly, then went back in to stay on the couch.

"Go," he was saying to me.

After all, he had already gotten me the money for the show.

So I went.

Dane's a good dog.

He was right, of course.

I needed to stay in my groove, stay the course, take care of my mental state after such a shock.

"Roald Dahl's James And The Giant Peach, Jr." had been on my radar ever since I saw that the Tybee Post Theatre has the 1996 film version of the 1961 book for their "Summer of Sea Adventures".

So, off I went to the Savannah Children's Theatre.

I knew I could find solace in the company of strangers, as I have in the past.

And so I did, surrounded by families celebrating this tale of an orphaned boy setting out to sea with on a giant peach, with only two insects, an arachnid, an invertebrate, and a hundred-legged creature. 

Sounds like a bunch of bugs, right?

However, that would be incorrect.

The ladybug, the grasshopper, the spider, the earthworm, and the centipede are none of them bugs, and only two are classified as insects.

Good to learn something new, isn't it?

Now, back into my groove for Sunday I go.

"Keeping Up Appearances" and "Are You Being Served?" will soon come on.

i thank You, God.

not a musical, but lots of songs!

"And oh what heights we'll hit!

On with the show, this is it!"

 

That's what the entire cast of about 40 middle-school kids led off with, onstage and dancing to the song I think of as the theme for "The Bugs Bunny Show".

I hear "This Is It" every Saturday morning, so I welcomed its presence as no coincidence.

Right place, right time!

I was in the front row, having flown from southside and barely making it!

Where was I?

At the Savannah Children's Theatre for the opening night of "Bravo Broadway"!

This made the fourth Summer Camp performance I've seen this year.

Honestly, I'd say that qualifies as an entry to complete my Bingo card, right?

So, that covered the upper right square: "Participate in a SavChTh Summer Camp".

Being a four-time audience member with great enthusiasm surely counts as participation!

I already have the AsbMemCh VBS to thank for the completion of two squares, starting with that lower left, "Read a Comedic Script", and moving on up diagonally to "Read a Dramatic Script".

For "Watch a play or musical at home", that happened on June 8th, between mowing the yard and virtually attending the Banana Ball game.

 

And that middle square, that required me to "Listen to a musical you haven't listened to before", that would have been a week later for the concert version of Ryan McCurdy's "Niagara".

Diagonal completed from lower left to upper right!

Yeah for me!!!

I also filled in "See a show out of town" (that was in Rincon) and "See SCT's the Little Mermaid", both back in May as part of my bday66 thrill ride.

Nice to have had a couple of extras, just in case.

Now, on to something else!

(smile!)

duality of humans

Don't discount the talent just because the word "children" appears in the title of the troupe.

I run into that prejudice so often that it's truly dismaying.

Asbury Memorial has a group (mostly choir members) who have been attending plays around town ever since I alerted Tom Lewis and Linda Combs to the burgeoning activity that has resurfaced since the pandemic quieted.

(Notice: I didn't say that COVID-19 is no more, because it's here to stay. But fewer people are falling prey to it, thanks to the vaccines. Interestingly, I met someone who actually works for Moderna and was part of their vaccine development team. Wade Davis is the nephew of my friend Bev Blank and was in town to share memories of times with his aunt.)

So, where was I?

Oh, yes... trying to get folks at my church to attend plays by the Savannah Children's Theatre, and having absolutely zero success with that.

Seriously.

Tom Lewis won't even consider those plays and musicals for the group, but he's a big promoter of such things for another troupe in town.

Unfortunately, that means the theatre-loving group will miss "Jekyll & Hyde".

Why?

Because it's performed by the SavChTh Encore troupe, those very talented high school and college students who have been acting for most of their lives.

Even the fact that it's downtown, at the historic Savannah Theatre, has not been enough to dissuade the AsbMemCh folks that this musical is fit for adults.

Sadly, that is their loss.

I've looked forward to this gothic horror ever since I first heard about it last year.

Robert Louis Stevenson is one of my favorite authors and has been since I was a teen.

Admittedly, it's been probably that long ago since I read his 1886 writing, "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", so the plot was not fresh in mind, but I had the gist of it.

Still, I wasn't aware that grief was a motivating factor for Dr. Henry Jekyll's foray into the separation of evil from the human soul.

His father suffered from dementia and had to be locked in an asylum to keep him from harming others; Jekyll thought removing the evil from his father would cure him.

Ah, the lies people tell themselves in the name of love!

 

Kudos to the cast, especially Ben Templeton, who took on the dual roles of the misled scientist and the murderous Edward Hyde - wow!

I don't know who had the role on Broadway, but I can assure you he would have given them a run for their money... and he just graduated high school.

I'll look forward to next summer's production from SCT Encore!

70 kids in one weekend!

"You must be pulling my leg. There's no way you were around that many children."

Actually, I was, and almost all at the same time. Certainly on the same day.

"Great googly moogly! You doing something at someone else's VBS?"

Nope, though there was one I ran across on fb that sounded cool. "The Great Science Lab" was the theme of that one, but I abstained. It may have been in Pooler.

"Then, how did you come to be around so many kids?"

A pure comedy of errors, really. Yesterday, I'd gone to the Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church to see the 3 PM performance of "We Are Monsters!" musical. That was being done by RHCommTh's summer camp. Only, the thing is, it wasn't. Mine was the only car there from 2:25 to 2:50 PM. Seriously. So I left.

"Wow. You drove all the way out there and no one was there?"

Yep. I had looked forward to that musical. The title intrigued me, you know?"

"Yes, I remember how moved you had been with "She Kills Monsters", so long ago. Somehow, I doubt this children's musical would have been akin to that SCAD play."

Those aren't the only monsters I like, but that's fodder for another horse.

"Hahahaha! That sounds so delightfully odd! But I catch your meaning. So, what did you do after bouncing out to Richmond Hill for naught?"

When I came back to Savannah, I got gas and stopped in at Aldi's for a pee break and cereal, then, I decided to go to Savannah Children's Theatre for their late matinee of "The Rainbow Fish Musical". How very fortunate for me that it was at 5 PM! Otherwise, I would have had to choose between the two musicals there this weekend, and that would have been a sad, sad situation. See, I had already decided that I would forego one of their shows for the RH one, knowing I could catch the fish on Sunday. You catch that pun?

"Yes, dear, tiny though it was. I thought of throwing it back..."

... Ha Ha Ha. As I was saying, I'd arrived at the SavChTh to find the lobby absolutely full of kids and parents and who knows who all! That's because the 3 PM of the other musical had just let out. Whew! I thought they were all there for the 5 PM show!

"So, that's how you came to be around seventy kids at one time?"

Not quite. "The Rainbow Fish Musical" only had thirty kids in it. I have no idea how many kids were in the lobby yesterday, but I know the other play had forty kids in it. So, including their siblings and friends, as well as the siblings and friends of the cast for the fish musical, there were probably at least a hundred kids in the building on Saturday afternoon!

"Wow. I bet you hadn't even brought a mask with you."

You're right, I had not. I had one in the car! Yeah, not that it helped. But that's okay, no one was coughing, so I felt safe. The Black Box was the set used for the little kids' musical, and I sat in the back, in an open space. What a fun play that was, too! As well as the titular character, there were four tiny lobsters, a huge octopus with five people operating the arms, a clownfish, a guppy, a sardine, a pufferfish, a herring, other fish species, and a barnacle - he was cute and only spoke gibberish!

"That sounds adorable!"

And I haven't even mentioned the starfish yet! Adesewa Abisogun was absolutely fabulous as the pun-loving creature who was famous for giving the "most amazingly disappointing hugs" even though she had five arms!!!

"Hahahaha! Do you remember any of the puns?"

Just this one: "I dolphinitly didn't do it on porpoise!" Isn't that fun??? There was one before it about something being "a fluke", which was also a dolphin's tail, but I don't recall how it went. And there was a really cute song that played during the intermission! Someone was singing about all taking a shower and then we hear: "Wait a minute! We're fish! We don't take showers!" - LOL! Then it launched into the refrain about "let's go swimming". Very cute!

"Well that sounds like it was lots of fun yesterday!"

It truly was, and "Matilda, The Musical Jr." was fun today, but this time with middle school kids. That means it had a a different set of jokes, some of which were a little harsh.

"Oh, really? Like what?"

Take this running gag: Matilda's father kept admonishing her for being a problematic boy, and she would correct him every time with "I'm a girl." Matilda, by the way, was played by Tenley Wright, who had been the middle-sized Alice in the play a couple of weeks ago. She was absolutely perfect in this role! And get this: I think she recognized me!!!

"No doubt. You had your usual front row seat, n'est-ce pas?"

I did today, but not two weeks ago. I was running late then and had to sit several rows back.

"Then I say good for her! She spotted someone who was really engaged and made sure to put some of her focus in your direction! You know how helpful it is to have someone like that in the audience. Your teaching days aren't that far back."

For sure. You know, May marked the 6th anniversary of my retirement.

"I know! I am so happy the pandemic is over and you have so much theatre going on!"

Me, too! Hallelujah!!!

got deep?

Yes, I did, thanks, both literally and figuratively, at back to back events this afternoon!

I have looked forward to "A Sunday Soiree" ever since I first spotted it on fb several weeks ago.

Hey, how could I resist when such a fancy word was luring me in?

(smile!)

Plus, this was an offering from DEEP Center, now celebrating its 15th year, and it was time to see what the new generation was writing about.

I have tried to always be there to support their fundraisers and I have always - I mean, ALWAYS - been amazed by the students' works.

Today, there were seventeen young writers who stood up and read, or recited, their writings to the crowd gathered at Victory North.

Nine of those were middle school youths who are part of The Young Author Project, which presented them a challenging approach to creative writing.

What brilliant imaginations they have!

Kudos to Christina Campbell for her award as Middle School Laureate!

I sat next to her glowing grandmother.

(smile!)

The eight high school students were part of that program, too, as well as Block By Block - which combines writing skills with recording histories of the students' communities, streets, and families - and also The SLAM Team.

That last represents the hiphop version of beat poets and consisted of three amazing young women: Eyonn Mitchell, Kay Mitchell, and Bashia McNutt.

Bashia is there in the photo, performing "Wishful Thinking", accompanied by the Savannah Music Festival Jazz Academy.

Absolutely amazing how poised and talented she is!

No wonder they created a new award for her: Block By Block Senior Legacy Award.

Absolutely amazing!

(smile!)

The soiree ended a little early... could I make it to the east end of Victory Drive in time?

Unlike the White Rabbit, I was not late!!!

That's a little inside joke for those familiar with the Lewis Carroll classic, if not with this musical, "Alice In Wonderland, JR.".

This story is about an imaginative girl who fancies herself being a princess or a professor or a... what?

It isn't until she falls deep into a rabbit hole - a situation I am well acquainted with - that she has time to ponder her true identity.

But just which would that be?

The Alice that fell into the hole?

The Alice that grew too tall from a potion?

The Alice that shrank so small after eating a cookie?

Or are all three appropriate for the time and space that they inhabit in that world?

Ah... deep thoughts.

(smile!)

straight flush for the mermaid!

This little dancing seagull made a beeline straight to me after the show!

I could tell when she came out to the lobby that she was in search of someone... and I was it!

And why did this youngster look for me?

She wanted to thank me for being in the audience!!!

That just floored me.

What bravery for her to approach me  to say that!

I truly must get her name so I can watch for her in future productions at the SavChTh!

(smile!)

And here's the magical part: she wasn't the only one to thank me!!!

See that ocean-dwelling fish behind her?

That's Truman Nash, aka 'Flounder' (who I had recognized as the snake-oil selling barber in the previous show).

He had to wait after JoJo Ward - the ship pilot and the Royal Chef - had said thanks to me and given me his big bear hug!

Truman came up right after, and we had quite a nice conversation about theatre work, with me telling him about my time with the Masquers and A.C.T.O.R.

You know what he told me?

"You should go back to doing that!"

Good advice!

And did I mention that these folks all do their own makeup?

(smile!)

Dear Danielle Houston came up and thanked me, too, having recognized my laugh!

She was working backstage for this musical, not trodding the boards.

But 'King Triton' (Chris Bass) and 'Ursula' (Joan McKee) overheard and they thanked me for my enthusiasm and laughter, too!

That was my "in" to speak with them.

All I had to do was mention the name "Betsy Kameron" and they talked to me quite a while!

Chris has a daughter who is friends with Addison, and Joan lives right next door to Betsy!

Betsy had mentioned that she knew both of them at the S&K Friday Fiesta last night, when I had thought I was going to be here for the musical.

Nope, as it was sold out!!!

But Gloria encouraged me to come to this particular evening show as I "have such a good laugh and they need that!" - so of course I did!

(smile!)

Good thing, too, as the matinee today was also sold out.

So is the matinee tomorrow!

And just what musical am I talking about?

"The Little Mermaid", of course, as foretold by "Futurama"!

I saw this episode, about the undersea city "Atlanta" very early Friday morning, so I thought that was the push for last night.

Apparently that was just to prime my motor.

It also made sure I knew when to be here, with little mermaids in tow or not.

Their company would certainly be a sweet catch!

Perhaps at a future show?

But tonight was no coincidence.

As if the push from Frye and the nudge from Gloria weren't enough reason for me to be there, the Universe gave me this odometer reading with the straight flush mileage: 2 3 4 6 1 5.

Right place, right time.

Much gratitude to all!

(smile!)

they're alive!!! Part 2

"This is not the droid you're looking for."

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

I couldn't resist... because resistance is futile!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

 

"Sorry to disrupt your giggling train of hilarity, as Sheldon might say, but those are not from the same science fiction franchise."

Hahahaha! I can just hear him now, saying those very words as he sadly shakes his head!

Yes, I know the difference between "Star Wars" and "Star Trek", but I missed doing anything related to lisping Jedi knights yesterday, so I had to make up for that lapse.

"Yes, dear."

So, tonight was another play by the Rambam 8th graders, and I was again with mi amiga, Barbara.

 

"Just like last night!"

 

Sure, except that was a movie and this is a play.

 

"Okay, fine. And this was being held... where? At the Savannah Children's Theatre? 

 

That is correct! And on the main stage, too!

 

"Very cool!"

 

Yes, it was! "Comic Book Artist" was all about creativity coupled with magical "Pens of Pelopones" that could make any character drawn with them come to life!

"Hahahaha!!! A person could get in trouble with those!"

 

Hence, the theme of the play!

 

"Who's the kid in the crazy hat with all the medallions?"

 

He's the villain, Doctor Shock Clock. Want to take a wild guess what his power is?

 

"He can stop time, of course! Bwah ha ha!"

 

Exactly! So he can rule the world! He was drawn to put some pizzazz into Wonder Comics, but why they drew a villain first is beyond me! Hahaha!

 

"Yeah, that was poor planning, but fun for us!"

Correctomundo! And see that kid between the villain and the green-shirt guy? That's Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz, would-be cartoonist, if only he could get the boss to move him off sweeper duty. Thanks to the villain, he gets his big chance! He's in this photo, too, blocked by the green-shirt kid.

"Are you going to show any of his creations?"

Actually, three of them are in these two photos. Standing beside him in this one are Charisma Guy and Triple Time. And the creature in the mottled fur coat in the upper one? That's Wombat Woman!

"You have got to be kidding! Those don't sound like any evil-fighting bunch to me."

 

Well they are. Including Blossom, they're the Fabulous Four, able to defeat evil by being charming, speedy, totally organic, and burrowing!!! Woohoo!!

"What about Doc Shock Clock? He had no henchmen?"

He had one, Minuto, and she's wearing the shiny pointed helmet in this photo.

"That hardly seems like a fair fight..."

It wasn't! The Fabulous Four were losing until Stanley joined their forces, aided by the Eraser of Pelopones! Hahahaha! I would have liked to see some of those magic-makers!

"What a fun night out! And what a nice pairing of two plays, with this one having comic book characters coming to life, and the other having characters living outside their books!"

Right? And this was entirely fortuitous... but what a match!

Right place, right time... but don't tell Doctor Shock Clock!

LOL!!!

airy tales can come true, it can happen to you, if you're young at heart

Don't adjust your monitor, that "f" was left off on purpose!

The SavChTh had a special tonight: "Airy Tales: Aerial Arts Showcase"!

I so love these and I was fortunate to have heard about this one in plenty of time to keep an eye on the schedule, as there were only two shows.

Tonight's was the only one for me, and I had sped there from the Smiths & Kamerons Friday Fiesta, giving out hugs while all were still at the table.

(smile!)

I still found myself sitting several rows back, instead of at the front.

That's okay, there was plenty of visibility so I didn't miss a thing!

The first set contained a whopping fourteen dance numbers!!!

All of the songs were from a variety of plays and musicals...

including "Little Red Riding Hood", about halfway through!!!

How sweet, with the girl and wolf doing routines on the hoops!

But there was an extra touch, just for me: the song used was "Lil Red Riding Hood", by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs!!!

Right place, right time!!!

(smile!)

I also very much liked "Run, Boy, Run", with two boys chasing each other on the hoops.

Very energetic, very cool!!!

That was the last song in the first set.

The second half of the program had sixteen song and dance numbers - wow!

The very first one had all the older kids, on rings and silks, performing acrobatic twists and flips as Disney-style villains.

And what was that song?

"Rotten To The Core"!!!

Hahahaha!!!

I also very much enjoyed "Lost Boy" from "Peter Pan", with three teens on hoops doing synchronized movements throughout.

However, my very favorite was "Hoist The Colours", a very deep-voiced song I don't recall as part of "Peter Pan", with a lone upper classman showing his mastery of this craft.

Wow!

Good for Matthew Wirick!

I also loved the "preview" of the aerial dancing for the upcoming summer feature!

That will be "The Little Mermaid" and I just may have to have four little blondes with me!

We had so much fun at the Mars Theater for that movie...

it would be such a treat to have them for the live show!

I know it looks like Charleigh Connor is freely swimming, but there is a hoop!

Yes, happy portents of things ahead!

(smile!)