So in high school, I was really into theater. I was in seven out of eight productions over the years, and my senior year I was even secretary of the organization. (Don't be impressed. I was the only one who applied. I don't remember doing squat. But I did get my name on a piece of paper.)
Here's the thing. I can't really sing. Or dance. Or even act. But I take up excellent background space.
My best friends always got the leads, and I was uber proud of them. No, really - I was never jealous. Although I did sometimes wish just a leetle bit that I at least had a name in a show - instead of the generic (and dreaded) CHORUS.
So imagine my over-the-top-giddiness when I was cast as a witch in the play Macbeth. Okay, so I didn't have a name, but I had LINES. And a lot of them! I practiced my double, double toil and trouble unto perfection.
We were awesome. And totally freaky.
Note: I do not have permission from these ladies to post this picture. Harmony, the one on the left, is still my bestest of besties. Am I forgiven, babe?
So opening night arrived, despite my nerves. And we totally stole the show. We were a hit!
.... and then, the school performance.
It was tradition to put on bits and pieces of the play during the school day, so as to entice the students to buy tickets and see the whole thing that night. It was kind of a big deal, and our reputations stood on the line. We were, after all, being scrutinized by the worst kind of critics. Teenagers.
We started off with our big cauldron scene. Dark. Lots of fake smoke. Flashy red strobe lights. Creepy voices. Circling the cauldron on an elevated platform, spotlights on us.
And Kat (the redhead in the middle) fell off the platform with an umpfff!
At first we didn't know what happened. She was utterly silent about the whole thing. I looked over and suddenly my co-witch had disappeared. With hundreds of my peers watching our every move, I looked down.
There she was, a look of utter panic on her face, as the stage hand under the platform pushed her back up. Shoved is a better word.
And I. Totally. Cracked. Up.
I laughed, giggled, spewed and snorted for the next five minutes straight. It felt like thirty. The other two witches had to say my lines as I succumbed to a complete and total laughing attack. The audience was laughing too - at me.
Did I mention this was supposed to be a tense, scary scene?
Yeah. I didn't get a part ever again.
7 comments:
This is AWESOME!!! I would be the one falling, I'm sure and laughing on the floor :)
They should have given you another role. Did they never watch the Carol Burnett Show? Nobody can keep a straight face under those circumstances!!
What are you talking about, I think you can sing :)
Are you kidding me? Of COURSE you have my permission to use that picture! I was so hot when I was 16 (of course, when I was 16 I thought I was an ugly hog). Best story ever- even if I don't remember you laughing. I think I was just too shocked to remember anything.
I'm not trying to top your story, just share your pain:
When I was a freshman in high school, I was in the school production of Pirates of Penzance, which was really fun until the Friday night performance where my zipper broke and my dress fell off on stage. I had to crawl off stage behind a cardboard rock. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole.
Plus I actually got a singing part in a school concert once, and when it was my turn I totally froze and my voice cracked something horrible. My last singing part ever, by the way.
Ah, high school.
*can't type; busy laughing*
Here's the funny thing: I absolutely remember seeing Macbeth during the school day (the full performance...I think the English classes could buy a discount ticket and see it all!?) and I remember LOVING it. I totally don't remember the falling witch or you laughing! Is that weird? :)
Post a Comment