Winded
0 Comments
Many of you know that the Project for Local Arts & Youth (PLAY, thank you very much) completed its first show, and the response was “wow”.
Whatever expectations were, the experience was a delight to all. And now…we breathe.
Everyone who was involved was tired even before the opening night performance. I was writing in May, Mo, Temple and I met in June, there was Palmer Home in July, and we held auditions in August. September saw the beginning of two weekly rehearsals, plus Saturday dance rehearsals. Fold in two major holidays, stir vigorously with basketball schedules and sickness, and you have a stress cocktail. Chill for a week, yields four performances.
Everyone loves positive attention, and needs it. It was gratifying to receive, and see it bestowed lavishly upon others.
A man came in to photograph the show and do a story for his local paper, and he said it was a “beautiful” thing. I paused, and somehow saw it through his eyes at that moment. I wasn’t watching for proper cues, or making sure the sound was loud enough, but looking at all the people from 5 to 55 in the show; every class, background, status, gifting, all working together in harmony, and glorifying God. It was a lovely picture of the body of Christ.
There were stories about grandmas who came because they were having a birthday party at the library, saw the poster, and decided to come with the entourage to our play. There was a young homeschooled boy who studied the book, and to finish his studies, he came to the show. There were strangers there, guests, old friends, family.
You might think I’m leading up to say there was one person who was indispensible, without whom the show would have fallen apart, and not been the same at all. You are correct.
Every single person fits that description. If a mouse was gone, it threw out the balance. If a weasel was late, we missed her. If a certain director was out of town, we felt a tangible loss of nurturing care and cohesion. If the guy who pressed the button for fog to roll in wasn’t there, you missed it. Everybody counted, and everybody mattered because everybody worked, and everybody committed.
I’m blessed and tired. I can’t wait to do it again.
Semper Bufo
0 Comments | Login to Post Comments