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Monday, August 04, 2008

The Tears and Triumphs of the Theater

Today was the first day of the kids theater camp. Last year they triumphed as Dorothy and the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz. This year the play is about Cinderella (I'm noticing a shoe theme here - ruby slippers, glass slippers...).

Of course Pippi was hoping for Cinderella (as were the rest of the girls there, I'm sure). And Harry was hoping for something big too. Maybe the Prince?

They both went to call backs. And it was between Harry and one other kid for the Prince. The other kid got it. Pippi says Harry did great - but maybe they wanted someone a little bigger for the part (the camp is for kids ages 8 to 11; Harry is only 8).

And Pippi is not Cinderella (though that doesn't mean she won't write her story about Cinderella). Pippi is one of the ugly step sisters. And she's good with that. She knows that having the lead is a lot of work. She enjoys it - but mainly likes being on stage.

Harry did not get any of the principal parts (there are many minor parts still to be handed out - about as many as there are kids - so it's not like he's out in the cold or anything). And he was not okay with it. There were tears. There were slammed doors. There was the pronouncement that he was never going back again. Ever.

Turns out that mainly what he wants is the script. (We'll utilize our scanner and make him a copy - there that was easy).

It's a tough lesson to learn - you can't always be in the spotlight. Sometimes you have to be a background player.

But the background is important too. It's what brings color and fun to life.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, I really tough lesson for him to learn. I remember "learning" that lesson waaaay to many times...and I still have a tendency to slam doors and pout!

christine M said...

Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Of course it just hurts like heck in the meantime.

He seems to be recovering - he's practicing for the talent show - so that means he plans to go back :)

PJ Hoover said...

It's so heart wrenching when my kids cry. Especially the older one because they only do it when they're really upset. Unlike the three-year-old who cries when her favorite underwear are in the washer.
Wow - so now I see inspiration for WMKE.

Vivian Mahoney said...

I'm going through the same thing. My two oldest are in a Broadway camp for the next two weeks, and they're doing some type of superhero/villian show. The girls wanted to be villians, but were chosen to be civilians who're chased by the villians. Don't even get me started with the conversation about the civilians and villians.

But, on the flip side, they have solos, and get to sing and dance throughout the show.

Good luck to Harry and Pippi! And I don't blame Harry. I'd want a copy of the script, too!

Liz B said...

Disappointment is tough to learn; and learn is the right word. It sucks, of course; but seriously? The teens and then adults who don't learn how to deal with disappointment (whatever the circumstances) are in for a tough time. It's hard, yes, but better to learn the coping mechanisms now.

I, peronsally, still believe that shopping and ice cream fixes everything.

And while Harry & Pippi are too young for it, you really should read Dramarama, because its all about theatre camp, the highs, the lows, etc.