I’ve been in lots of plays and musicals. I started doing theater as an adult. I had something I wanted to achieve.
I wanted to make friends. And, I did.
I continued for quite a while. I’m slowing up now, but that’s alright. I learned things about myself and my fellow human beings. You can’t ask much more than that from a hobby.
Once in a while I have the “actor’s nightmare”. That’s the dream where you’re not prepared. You don’t even know what show is running on that stage. A costumer pulls an outfit over your head. You get pushed out into the lights after she says “Oh, just go do your best.”
Sometimes the dream goes on for an excruciatingly long time. Sometimes my sleeping brain cuts it short.
“This is just a dream. I don’t have to be here.” I tell myself. I wake up in a sweaty heap and let the dream evaporate.
This morning I woke up laughing. I wasn’t remembering a dream. I was remembering a real life moment from my days on the stage. I have no idea why it was on the tip of my memory upon awakening.
I played a big part in a two women show. I spent months learning many long monologues. I remembered it all during some shows. Other shows found me stumbling around a bit………but, I persevered.
I think the audience even liked me.
The opening scene found my character talking directly to the audience. From my pretend kitchen………….where I folded a load of real laundry on the kitchen table. Two hours of songs and monologues followed and then I took a bow.
Off to the dressing room to become myself again. To think about offers from my friends to go out for something to eat………….perhaps a drink. I always took my time back there. I hardly ever bumped into an audience member wanting to shake my hand.
This time was different. I came out of the dressing room with my wig hair. I was more than a little sweaty. I found a smiling woman waiting to meet me. I didn’t know her. I thought “How nice. She waited all these minutes to tell me that she enjoyed my performance. I guess learning all those monologues was worth it after all!”
The pretty young woman pumped my free hand up and down. She had a big smile lighting up her face.
This is going to be a big old ego booster, I thought.
“I couldn’t wait to meet you! I had to let you know that I LOVE, LOVE the way that you fold towels. Could you take a minute and show me how to do it?” my adoring fan asked.
I burst out laughing as I shoved my ego back into my pocket. I showed her how to fold a towel. I laughed all the way while walking the downtown sidewalk. I entered the restaurant to have an after show cheeseburger with my friends.
I told my buddies about my new “biggest fan”. One friend laughed until she snorted. We pointed at her and did piggy sounds. Another friend laughed so hard that half a martini came out of his nose.
That hurt and was very expensive.
I took a cloth napkin and showed them how to fold a towel as they roared.
Theater gave me friends.
It’s one of life’s sweetest achievements.
growinguponcolumbusstreet 