Wed. 5/22 Theatre Ending

Immediately after the play ends, actors sit on the stage and pass the mic to describe their experience with the production. Before leaving the stage for the night, our star strikes a few poses for my camera. Look out, Broadway!

Wed. 5/22 Break a Leg!

With all in place, the director welcomes the audience, thanks everyone, introduces the play, and calls for the curtains to part.

We watch our star become Beth, a television news anchor reporting the turmoil in Fairytale Land. Later she makes an entrance on a Razor scooter to investigate. The audience laughs at appropriate times and enjoys the premise of story characters rebelling against their traditional roles. Mother Goose does succeed in naming her assistant/replacement, who has been the instigator of the revolt.

The play's end brings much applause with curtain calls, bows, and standing ovation. My next post will have photos taken later.

Wed. 5/22 Playing Around

This afternoon when we pick up younger granddaughter from school, she shows us the backdrop for her play scheduled next week. Unfortunately, we won't be here then, but we have been listening to her learn her lines. She is Bella the Butterfly in the play titled Bella's Summer Picnic. We remind ourselves that we came for her dance recital and for sister's school play, which is tonight.

Older granddaughter has dress rehearsal, potluck dinner, and performance at a middle school. Pawpaw and I take a tray of raw veggies with dip and go early to see some of the rehearsal and save seats for parents and sister.

Play director notices very little that needs fine tuning during this final practice.

Parents do well to organize the dinner for play participants and their families, and all enjoy munching, especially of the pizza.

Tuesday 5/21

The granddaughters' routine for school days is well rehearsed and goes by the clock. Pawpaw and I always fit in extra kisses and hugs before they leave.

Older wears black and a bun for her school play performance today for the entire school (public sees it tomorrow night); younger will be in the audience.

Pawpaw and I run errands and shop this day. After school we make time for snacks and homework.

Parents arrive home from work and we catch up with the day. Girls open the James Avery gifts we brought from Texas: younger a Bible charm for First Communion, older a musical notes charm for performance in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and both comedy-tragedy masks charms for their theatre roles in school plays.

Soon their charms collected from us through the years will be ready for bracelets. Girls suggest the year they become teenagers, and the rest of us agree.

Weather allows us to have hamburgers from the grill, and we relax in preparation for a busy day tomorrow.

Monday 5/20 Practices

Today's highlights are all about practices.

To begin, husband and I catch an early showing of The Great Gatsby that could have used more practice for its interesting but not necessarily acclaimed treatment of a classic.

When we go to school to pick up girls, we see the end of the school play practice featuring older granddaughter, and younger granddaughter is watching with friends. Our performer wears pink shirt on left in first photo. .

Main performance of play is Wednesday evening at 6:00, one of several reasons we are visiting this week. School is partnering with the city's children's theatre to produce the play, and children benefit from professional staff and experience. Both granddaughters have attended summer drama camps and are happy both on a stage and in an audience.

Final practice of the day is softball. With us and all the equipment loaded in the car and on the way, daughter receives message that practice has been cancelled due to very wet fields. Undaunted, we continue to the ballpark complex to create our own family practice, hoping to avoiding the puddles. The six of us manage a spirited game and are joined by a teammate and her dad who failed to get the cancellation message. The outdoor activity is just what we need, and during the night the rains begin again.