Tag Archives: © 2014 Book Chatter

Recovery

Oliver 2014
The Cast of Oliver

We survived! What a busy week. We are still trying to return to a normal routine and The Girl seems to be coming down with a tiny cold but with so little sleep and then going right into track season. she’s toughing it out. They don’t have school on Friday or Monday so I am hoping they can catch-up on lost sleep then.

Overall, the week went well. The shows were amazing and everyone was great. I had a lot of fun backstage but if I had to compare this show to others they’ve done. this one seemed to go a little smoother. It’s so hard to do these shows when they are in school but somehow we managed. I was perfectly fine all weekend but by Monday, when it was all said and done I felt like collapsing into a heap! I just cannot keep my eyes open. I can’t imagine how the kids feel.

The Girl and Teen - Oliver 2014

The lighting backstage is either pitch black or too darn bright and with them running all over crazy, I have to catch photos when I can. This one is out of focus AND overexposed but since they were never together on stage, I had to grab what I could. Oliver is a great show. Lots of good songs and dance numbers and it’s not everyday that your kid gets to play a murderer. The Girl was in a special dance group and The Teen played Bill Sykes, killer of prostitute Nancy.

I recorded the death scene but I don’t think I can post it due to royalty issues but every time he threw himself off that bridge my heart stopped just a little bit. This was a difficult part for him because he likes to be liked by everyone and when it came time to give autographs, no one wanted his because he was the killer!

Nancy, Bill (The Teen), Fagin and Dodger
Nancy, Bill (The Teen), Fagin and Dodger at intermission.

It’s a difficult week of eating in the car, doing make-up in public restrooms and trying to wrangle pony tails while going through the drive-thru. It’s crazy! We are all a little torn about not doing the next show, The Wizard of Oz. Rehearsals start at the end of this month but with everything the kids are doing, we’ve decided to sit this one out and return in the fall for Annie. The Teen can focus on his grades and this other show he is in, The Drowsy Chaperone and The Girl can focus on track.

Me? I get my Mondays and Wednesdays back. Sort of. I will be sitting at track practice but I can read or walk or stare at the sky if I want to.

I hope you are all well. I was not able to keep up with blog reading and probably won’t be able to catch-up until this weekend but I am thinking of you all.

The Sunday Salon: Overwhelmed

Oliver

This weekend, is the calm before the storm. I got up this morning to prepare goodies for the Super Bowl but in the back of my mind, I am thinking about the week of hell that is coming up, otherwise known as production week. Oliver is a tough show to do. It’s bleak but it has some amazing songs and it’s not everyday that your kid plays a murderer or is part of a gang of pick-pockets.

We’ll get through it. We always do. My son has been involved with this company since he was seven and he is now almost sixteen. My daughter, since the age of four. But production week would be so much easier if I didn’t have to work. With the double casting and in some cases, triple casting, the call times are all over the map. You have to really pay attention to the schedule and between my two kids, getting them fed and getting myself fed, since I am also back stage, can be a real challenge. Plus, they are still in school, so there is homework and studying that won’t be done since they will both have late nights ahead of them.

But, BIG but, it’s goes by quickly. By next Monday, we will all be breathing a big sign of relief.

Sunday Salon

As for today, I’ve prepped all the Super Bowl food for the oven. I just need to time the cooking just right so I can take the stuff over while it’s still warm. I can’t wait to just sit down and relax!

What am I reading?

I am reading Orefo by Richard Powers. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. Science and art collide and I am finding myself fascinated by it all. I am also reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette? and I am loving it.

What am I cooking?

I made a ginormous tray of Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas with cream sauce. I also wrapped little smokies with bacon and will sprinkle with brown sugar before I cook them up. I also made these Philly Cheesesteak pockets. I must have been starving when I planned all this stuff. It’s not like there’s going to be a big group of people there today but I guess it’s better to have too much than too little. Plus, The Teen can plow through a buffet like it’s nobody’s business so it’s best that I keep the food coming.

What am I watching?

Nothing, at the moment. The Girl has Gilligan’s Island on. I used to love that show but man, I cannot stand it now! Of course we’ll be watching the Super Bowl later and I will be recording the Puppy Bowl. I am a huge Seinfeld fan and Jerry Seinfeld and the gang have been having secret meetings lately. He said, that the meetings have nothing to do with the Super Bowl, but I am secretly hoping for a mini-Seinfeld reunion during today’s game. We shall see.

What do you have planned for today?