Last year our school did the musical "Alice in Wonderland Jr." It was a ton of fun, but also a lot of work, as most ventures of that kind usually are. After the success of last year's show, we decided to do another musical this year - "Narnia," based on the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. We did auditions in late September, cast the show around Thanksgiving, and started rehearsals on October 25th. Since then, I have had no free weeknights - Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday have been consumed by musical rehearsals, and Wednesdays are the rehearsal days for City Band and Millennium Swing Orchestra.
Several times over the past 3 1/2 months I have longed for freedom from the show - time to do the things that I want to do - time to visit my brand new baby nieces, my sister and brother-in-law, etc., spend time with Jeff, go out for coffee with friends without having to dash out mid-conversation to make it to rehearsal on time, relax, have a nap, do laundry, paint my toenails.... some of these things are completely mundane, but that's exactly what I've found I've been missing: time to enjoy the mundane aspects of life. Now, I'm definitely not saying that spending time with Jeff or visiting Avery and Emily are mundane - I feel exactly the opposite actually. What I mean is that when I start wishing I could do laundry and clean my car after school, or go to the mall, or wash the floors in my bedroom, or bake banana bread, or hang out in my pyjamas... then I know I'm feeling overcommitted.
What keeps me going through all of it though, is that I know it's good for my students. It's good for them to have the experience of being on stage, playing a part of something bigger, escaping themselves for a couple hours and entering a world where they can be anything.... a witch, a wolf, a statue, a dancing woodland nymph. It's good for them to be challenged and to have the responsibility of learning their lines, music, harmonies, blocking, etc. It's good for them to have the bonding experience with their fellow cast and crew members. It's good for them to see that they are capable of doing something big, and presenting it to a live audience.
There's always the stress of "that chord was out of tune" or "that character missed her entrance" or "that person forgot his lines" or "this person never seems to stay in character" etc. but in the end I always look back on it and say that it was worth it. Not for me and for the (usually-)out-of-tune chords (which they sing beautifully in music rehearsal but forget when they get on stage), or for the amazing finished product, because, let's face it... it's a high school musical. We do what we can. But what makes it all worth it is the look on the kids' faces when they say to me excitedly in the hallways, "Miss Campbell! 4 days 'til Narnia opens! I'M SO EXCITED!" I guess this is somewhat what it must feel like to have children - you sacrifice your own time and energy so that they can experience as much as possible, and you don't do it for yourself, but for them.
So, here we are, staring down the barrel of another opening show, which is going to happen in 2 1/2 days whether we're ready or not. This weekend is consumed by 13 hours of tech and dress rehearsal, with a whirlwind road trip to Saskatoon to see Jeff and to pick up band instruments from the repair shop crammed in on Saturday night. On Monday we take the stage with full costumes, make-up, sound, lighting, set, props... the works. For me, I just keep my students in mind whenever I get stressed about the product - I need to remember that it will never be perfect. They work hard, they are wonderful people, and they will do the best that they can do. They will be better for it, and really so will I.
Come Monday, I will begin to have more free evenings as our first 3 shows are matinees. Friday and Saturday are evening shows, Sunday is a matinee..... and come Monday, I will have all weekdays free except Wednesday. Regular life will resume. I will have time to spend with Jeff again, not just on weekends. I will get to see the twins grow and get cuter by the day again. :o) And what will be left? Good memories of another show with wonderful students. Here's to hoping all goes well on stage!
