vacay in georgetown, with 8th graders and mileage change

"Did you say "8th graders"?"

 

I did indeed! Today was the final play by those students at Savannah Country Day School. The next time I see them, they'll be in the Upper School plays! This matinee was also the final performance of "Bright. Young. Things.", which is about a reality TV show which has students competing for the top prize. It was pretty funny, but also serious.

 

"That sounds like an ambitious piece for middle school kids."

 

Oh, I'm sure it was a challenge, but they all rose to the occasion! 'Rochelle' (Julia Drake) was supposed to be having a day with her dad (Knox Dew), a janitor, but the TV station called him in to clean up a mess someone made. Next thing she knows, she's put on the show in the place of a competitor that bailed. She'll be showing off her knowledge against a set of twins, 'Jasmine' (Isabella Badea) and 'Sheara' (Arabella Hassan), who are both hoping to win this year. There's also 'Hester' (Sophie Arvizu), who has brought along the foot of her pet rabbit (who is deceased, not hopping along on three feet). 'Amber' (Katie Rodman) is just 10 years old, but she managed to get selected, though she is quite nervous about it. Then there's the lone male, 'Bernie' (Emmett Winchel), who plans to be an actor and is only there because his parents insisted. Quite a nice assortment! However, as they discover, they weren't chosen for their skills so much as for the tension that would be on stage between 'the underdog', 'the villains', 'the brain', 'the cutie', and 'the hero', to draw the audience in.

 

"Oh, how dastardly! Picked for their personalities, not their intelligence! I hope the kids didn't find out."

 

Oh, of course they did! One of the four 'producers' let it slip. Then one of the twins got mad at the other for saying she was going to "let" her sister win! It truly was fun! And afterward, the 8th graders gave flowers to the teachers and stage crew. Very sweet! I liked that the play was done 'in the round' on stage. That definitely gave a more intimate performance. And I managed to snag a front-row seat! Right place, right time!

 

"Very good! I know how much you prefer those."

 

That wasn't the only coincidence that happened. My odometer clicked over into another thousand position as I was leaving the show. How about that! The mileage was 245999 as I had pulled in, and became 246000 as I was leaving. Woohoo!!!

 

"That's a pretty wobbly photo you have there. Was that from your left hand shaking, or was that jitter from the car?"

 

A bit of a combination of both, I'm sure. By the time I noticed the important odometer reading, I had someone behind me, so I rushed the shot. I'm actually surprised it came out as well as it did!

 

"Well, I kinda sorta like it, too."

 

Thanks! It's been raining much of the day, too, so Stella hasn't had much outside time. Susan canceled the party on the patio because of the light rain, but I just grabbed my umbrella and took Stella out anyway. At least it was true this time when I blamed the neighbors for not coming out. (smile!) The ridgeback was just happy to be outside with me. We stayed out there for about thirty minutes, then I took her in and dried her off. Can't have her catching a cold!

 

"That's for sure! What's next on your vacation agenda?"

 

Tonight, I get a scifi double header of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones! "Men In Black" starts momentarily, then "Men In Black II" follows right behind it. What nice additions to my vacation film festival! Plus, I've recorded "Free Guy", which I watched again this morning. Yep! Life is good!

today, i went to a 1st-ever play festival

Have I even been out to Savannah Country Day School this year?

I have not, for one reason or another, be it related to weather conditions or a preponderance of American Legion meetings.

 

Time to rectify that situation, and what better event than the inauguration of their very own festival of short plays?

"Spring Shorts" is what that 10-minute play festival has been dubbed!

Doesn't that title encourage one to get out of the house and partake?

Yes, yes, it does, and I must declare it a rousing success!

They put out a call to professional playwrights to submit their works, hoping that a few might actually do so.

James Venhaus, the teacher/director/producer for theatrical shows at this school, told us that they were overwhelmed by the response: 350 plays were submitted for the festival!!!

Wow!!!

Of that gracious plenty, six were chosen, and those were directed by various students in the theatre program.

The festival also showcased five plays written by various students, with those all directed by James Venhaus.

So, there were eleven plays total, some longer than ten minutes, some shorter, with a brief intermission during the two-hour program.

Wow!!!

These were all performed as theatre in the round, with both actors and audience sharing space on the stage.

That made for a more intimate setting, which really helped with the message in these short stories.

The actors would cart onto the stage whatever props were needed, including furniture, for their piece, then cart it off after.

What types of things were used?

Well, this manual typewriter on the desk, as well as several chairs and a table.

The typewriter actually worked, too, and the whole tone brought to mind the play set in the Vietnam era.

As this short play began, a man is sitting and typing, reading aloud his words.

"I regret to inform you that you son has died."

Letters to parents of soldiers lost in the war.

Wow.

After a day of typing such letters, he goes home and needs to recover, but he has a teen daughter waiting and he is her only living parent.

She suggests they listen to some music to ease the mood...

but when she turns on the radio, she gets Don McLean...

carrying on about "the day the music died"...

and her dad gets up and turns it off.

Here's the thing: after he leaves the room, she turns the radio back on...

and "American Pie" is still playing.

That's because it's almost nine minutes long.

Of course it would still be on!

Bravo to Kharis Ott for writing "Bad News On The Doorstep"!!!

[That's a line from the song, too - nice that others listen to lyrics.] 

By the way, not only did she write that play, but she directed another one ("Surprise", a comedy about a 2-minute psychic going through yet another breakup), and acted in two others.

Wow!!!

She wasn't the only one to do such a feat.

Hannah Smith wrote "Walls" [about the drama unfolding in three neighboring apartments], directed "Kung Foolery" [comedic physical fighting between husband and his mother-in-law], and acted in two others.

Kensie Glass acted in one and wrote "Cast Party", which reminded me of all the fun and drama of those I've been to over the years!

(Shout-out to the 'Hugh Mongus D' that crashed the party!)  

Samantha Hendrix acted in three plays and directed two plays, a comedy ("Party Princess" who wore wrong-colored dress for 4-year-old's birthday party, to mother's chagrin) and a more serious piece ("Blocked", about a 26-year-old who is missing her birthday because she is trying to write).

Anna Sapere wrote "Love At First Sight" (a failing romance after girl has memory loss) and acted in two plays, one of which was "Blocked".

Her costar in "Blocked", Suri Desai, also directed a play called "Finding Time" (a sweet romance of two friends who keep running into each other in scavenger hunts).

Jack Lerch was the only male student to act and direct.

He acted in two plays (featured as "Hugh Mongus D" - that's got to be a pun!) and directed "Baby Charging Station". a comedy about a guy who takes care of a robotic baby in a Child Development class in order to meet a girl.

That brings me to Caroline Bergmann, who acted in two plays and wrote "Voices In The Hall", my other favorite tonight.

'Maeve', a freshman is waiting for her sister to get stitches in the hospital and chats up the guy sitting in the same bank of chairs. 

His name is 'Callum' and he's waiting for his friend to get out of surgery.

He and 'Jonathan' are senior football players and were in a car wreck.

He goes off to find a doctor to ask about his friend.

That's when 'Elise' comes out, bandaged head, and 'Maeve' starts telling her about 'Callum' and 'Jonathan' and 'Elise' thinks her sister is playing a prank.

After all, the family knows that 'Elise' says she can see ghosts and that's how she ended up bumping her head!

But 'Maeve' insists 'Callum' is real... 

'Maeve' doesn't believe in ghosts...

right?

Only she has to now, as 'Elise' tells her that car wreck was real a year ago and both of the football players died.

Really good!

And guess who played 'Callum'?

Jack Lerch.

Very nice... and a very nice evening out for me!

jazz with kids

The best part of the Winter Jazz Concert at Savannah Country Day?

The absolute pride the two teachers had in their students!

As a retired teacher myself, I recognized that joy evidenced by Alyse Hudson and David Elliott there on the stage.

How wonderful!!!

Here's Ms. Hudson with her 8th graders, bouncing around almost as much as they did!

She started out tonight with 32 students, all in the 6th grade and fairly new to playing their instruments.

They'll get better with experience, but their renditions of "When The Saints Go Marching In" and "Ode To Joy" were still recognizable.

Next up she had 18 students, in the 7th grade, so they were in their second year with their saxophones and trumpets, flutes and trombones.

Yes, their pieces were much smoother and, although I didn't know "Grooved Pavement Ahead" or "Orangutango", I could definitely appreciate them!

Then came her last bunch, the 11 she's having for her 8th grade class.

She put them to work clearing the stage, then had them stand to perform!

And their music?

Such a wide assortment, from the fierceness of "Brass Attack" to the familiarity of "Favorite Things" and the newness of "Back In The Day" - I loved it all!

And she just beamed the entire time, so proud of 'her' kids!

(smile!)

Then it was time for the Upper School Jazz Band to take the stage with their 2 keyboards, 7 saxophones, 6 trumpets, 3 trombones, and rhythm section of bass, drums, and vibes.

Impressive bunch!

Mr. Elliott made sure to note the new instruments that were supplied by the school's fundraising group - kudos to them!

These students really knew how to play them, too, and all seemed to enjoy not only their music makers, but the music they were playing.

Trust me, due to their enthusiasm I was dancing in my seat for "Low Country Shuffle" and "Mas Que Nada"!

I will gladly stand up and dance the next time they perform!

Thanks for the free concert, y'all!

Now, it's time for my free dinner from cousin Penny and Panera.

I'd ordered it on the way, intending to eat at the school's parking lot, but the restaurant was abnormally slow, so I settled for only eating the chips.

I'd kept the bag shut tightly, so the Ciabatta Chicken Pesto Dipper and sauce were both still warm when I got home - nice!

Now, to settle in for "Ghosts" and "Elsbeth" while I dine...

what a busy, different, day I've had!

(smile!)

take 5 fairy tales, shake well, and serve on bare stage

"Fairy tales aren't like cocktails, dear girl. They cannot be mixed up like that into some new story that makes any sense."

I didn't say anything about making a new story, g'friend. I said only to mix and serve on a bare, empty, stage. That's what was done tonight at Savannah Country Day... and it was amazing!!! The one-act play festival is coming up and their entry is "The Secret In The Wings". They have to start with a bare stage and end with a bare stage and have all done in less than 55 minutes.

"Yes, I'm aware how that works. Not my first rodeo! LOL!"

Hey, just giving you a little refresher. Here's the thing: I had not realized this was a competition entry! All I knew was it kinda sorta snuck up on me, as I knew naught about it until yesterday when I saw a post from SavCounDay about it. I guess I need to "fb friend" their director, James Venhaus, so I'll have a better heads-up. I mean, David Poole keeps me up on things at SavArtsAcad, fortunately. Anyway, I knew that tonight was my only opener, and that was by sheer luck. You see, I was supposed to go to a dance recital downtown, but Kathy Mayin backed out on me and it sold out. So glad that left me free to be south side instead!

"Yeah, having an inside connection is the way to go, as you don't have any nieces or nephews with kids going there. So, what fairy tales were part of this? Talk to me!"

Yes, ma'am! These were definitely obscure, but I knew four of the five. Grim, dark, tales, all. And they were told wrapped around a central tale, "The Seven Swans", a variation on "The Six Swans" in number only. Got it? There were seven sons, all noisy boys, and they were turned into swans. Their sister was the only one able to turn them permanently back into human form, but the stipulation was she had to knit sweaters from nettles for each of them. She also had to keep silent until the task was done. Folks thought she was a witch and she was about to be killed when the swans came for their sweaters... but one was not quite finished. One boy was left with a flapping wing, but the other six were fine.

"Yikes! That is a dark tale."

So it is, and that is the central piece, told in its entirety. The other tales were told "in the wings" of that one. Get it? It's a pun!

"I see. If you say so."

No, truly! The other four were begun before this one, then had their endings after that one about the swans. So, first up was "Beauty And The Beast", which only resembled the Disney version because the father plucked a rose from the neighbor's garden for his daughter. The daughter was terrified when she saw the flower and even more so when her parents said they'd asked the neighbor to babysit her while they went out. "But he's an ogre!", the girl cried, "he's got a lizard tail!". I think that was another pun, with 'tail' for the 'tale' he was to read to her.

"Sure, I see where you're going with that."

Anyway, he starts reading about "The Three Blind Queens" and that story begins unfolding. It starts with three young kings who all wed sisters of a fisherman before they go off to war. The royal nursemaid doesn't like the queens and plots to have them killed, with her having their eyes as proof. Instead, the three queens rip out their own eyes, pleading for the lives of not only them but their unborn babies. So they live in the wilderness, starving, with two of them eating their babies. So there is only one child that lives.

"Damn! Cannibalism??? In a fairy tale???"

I told you they were dark! Actually, really appropriate for Halloween, don't you think? Anyway, that story takes a break while the child grows up and the next tale begins. That one is "The Princess Who Wouldn't Smile", in which a sourpuss lass is to be wed to the suitor who makes her laugh. This time, the tale runs through the attempts of two unsuccessful gents. Then we segue into "Allerleriauh", in which a daughter is to be wed to her father, but pleads for a gown of gold, a gown of silver, and a gown of stars before she does so.

"Incest??? Dark, dark, dark..."

Yes, but we never see any violence on stage. We just hear the set up and part of the tale, then we're off to another tale. With that fourth one, the story takes a break when she runs away with the three dresses. That's when the tale of the swans is enacted, and it runs all the way through. Then we get the ending of "Allerleriauh", followed by the wrap-up of "The Princess Who Wouldn't Smile", and then the finishing reunion of the three kings returning from a 17-year war to their "Three Blind Queens". Whew! Such fast pacing!

"And what about the little girl and the ogre?"

Well, here's the beauty part of that! Bear in mind that the actors bring onto the stage what they need for each scene, with items coming on and going off throughout the play. By the time they return to that initial story, there are several lamps onstage, each with a child and parent. Now, the girl is the mother and the ogre is her son, with her comforting him after a nightmare. Such a sweet scene and so reminiscent of the scene where Belle cradles the Beast after his brush with death! I "got it" at once!

"Oh, yes, I love that scene!"

And, in the background, the parent and child groups start moving off with the lamps, presumably taking the children to bed, then the girl and ogre also leave. it was just so beautifully choreographed that I didn't realize that it was all done until it was back to bare stage again. Wow! Just fabulous!!!

"That sounds cool. How long did it take for them to perform all that?"

Just over 49 minutes! I told you it was fast!

"Wow!"  

Yes, indeed! I abstained from taking photos until after they came out for their bows, and only just managed to catch that photo before they were all off stage again. I think they have a strong performance and a very good chance of winning the competition. I'm so glad they had this tonight for me... and for only $10. Wow! Now, I'm going to watch "The Corpse Bride", as I'm in the mood for more dark, Halloween-themed entertainment. Peacock has this, so it's free to me! Later, chica! Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite! LOL!

bday67 luncheon! bday67 with brothers! bday67 pinter play!

Thank you, Yvonne!!!

When I texted her last night to say, "Lunch maybe? Tomorrow or Mon? Houlihans? Kayak? Both?", she'd responded, "Tomorrow? Toni? Houlihan's? Time?" - hooray!

"Yes! High noon!"

After all, that's our time for luncheons.

(smile!)

Did I get a photo of the three of us?

Surprisingly, no.

We were there nearly three hours, but somehow not one photo did I take manage to take.

I guess we were too busy talking and having a good time!

So, all I have to commemorate this bday67 event is this email flyer from the restaurant, granting me a free lunch - up to $15 - if someone else also dined.

Thanks, Yvonne, for "buying" my lunch!!!

And thanks, Toni, for buying dessert for all three of us!

I still cannot believe the waitress thought we'd be able to eat three of those Salted Caramel Ooey Gooey Cakes - hahahaha!!!

We barely finished the one serving of all that sweetness!

(smile!)

 

Two hours later, Smitty sent me a text.

"Hey, we are going to Castaway today."

What, not to Jalapenos?

No, Laura wanted to check out this place.

Yes, the time was still 5PM.

Cool beans, I was up for a change of venue!

Not that it mattered, as I was still too full to eat.

I just wanted to spend time with both of my brothers tonight!

And that's exactly what I did, too!

Mary and Laura were there, too, of course, and I sat across from Mary and chatted quite a bit!

Then most of the Kameron contingent arrived: Betsy, Jimmy, Addison, Becca!

Mark never did make it, having been hung up on a job in Beaufort.

Oh, well!

I started out beside Smitty, then Tony made him switch seats when Jimmy arrived, so the Dood could chat me up - lol!

They all kept trying to get me to order, but I abstained.

Too full, too full... but how wonderful to see them all again!

(smile!) 

I left shortly after their food arrived, but not before taking a group photo of them!

Maybe I can get that posted here one day... but not today!

My phone is still not able to send photos to my email.

However, the printer scans programs just fine!!!

Here's the one that I found out about on Wednesday.

Yes, like just two days ago!

Savannah Country Day School had posted on fb about a "Senior Project" and asking folks to "please come to it on Friday".

Well, alrighty then!

So much for the Cinema Savannah screening of "Malena" -

so much for the "Sea Of Ink" night at the Ships of the Sea Museum" -

so much for "Drowsy Chaperone" - this time by SCAD - at the Lucas Theatre -

my plans changed justthatfast!

I'm so glad they did!

SCDS not only had the play by Harold Pinter for free, but so were all the snacks and drinks.

They were clearing it all out, as Jenkins Auditorium would be dark until the fall.

Happy birthday to me!

Plus, Henry Dickerson came and hugged me before the play began!

I had not realized he's a senior and this was his farewell gig, serving as Artistic Director for "Betrayal" - wow!

Such an adult-themed play for all these young people to perform!

See, "Betrayal" is the 1978 play built on Pinter's own affair with a married woman, and this one centers on the cuckold husband, the wife that he is cheating on, and the one screwing her, who is the husband's best friend.

I told Henry before the play that I hoped none of these young actors had ever had those experiences.

He gave me an odd smile, that let me know that he was surprised I knew so much about this bit of drama.

Hey, I did my homework on this time-jumping piece, right?

Glad I did!

Glad I was there!

I know I'll never get a chance to see this again -

that makes it a perfect birthday gift -

something completely different from what the other troupes offer.

(smile!)

buttercups building up!

"Hey, that sounds like a song, kinda sorta. Or maybe it's a problem in the garden with a particular species of flowers running amok?"

Good joke! Hahahaha! It was the former, actually. As soon as I heard the opening bars of the song, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be! Right place, right time!!!

"Wonderful!!! So, that was playing as you arrived?"

Oh, no. That song from my youth was the grand finale at today's Lower School concert and musical theater. I'd arrived a few minutes late to the standing-room only show, which meant I had to stand alongside the wall for the entire time. I wasn't the only one, either, and that was all along the back and both sides of Jenkins Auditorium.

"Wow."

I know! This was a free show, just as the Middle School event had been. I guess that's to give something back to the parents who have paid all year to send their kids to Savannah Country Day. Very nice! I'm glad I was able to be there for free, too.

"Did this show have a theme, or was it randomly put together?"

Oh, yes, it definitely had a theme: building. The title was "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site", named for the book written by Sherri Duskey Rinker.  That's actually the last in her series about the machines that are needed for buildings. You know: cement mixers, dump trucks, cranes, excavators, bulldozers. For this concert-performance piece show, each of the pieces were composed by the 3rd-5th grade students as well as AP music theory students. I'm sure their teacher, Mrs. Graves, also helped. (smile!)

"Wow. That's impressive for students that are around Alyssa and Leila's age. They were in 5th grade this year."

It really was impressive! I'm going to talk about it to Christina and maybe her school will take on such a project. It'll certainly make the parents feel more involved in their children's education. I think they could do it! The 3rd graders got to demonstrate the sounds of the building site, but it was the task of the 4th and 5th graders to make the equipment itself come alive, so to speak, through spoken word and layered melodies, using xylophones and percussion. Essentially, these boys and girls told the story and then created the 'song' for each piece of equipment. I so liked it!!!

"Just imagine how much more you would have enjoyed it if your great-nieces were in the show!"

That's what I'm saying! The public schools could do this, too. I hope they will! I'll be glad to drive to Hinesville for their show!

ablaze! kick in the brass! blue beamer!

Alex, what are three songs I heard tonight?

"Seriously? Those are song titles?"

Correct! To my knowledge, none of the tunes have words, just music, but, oh! What fresh groupings of notes they bring to the ear!

"Very nice! I take it, then, that you knew none of those three?"

Hey, I'll do you one better... I knew naught of the majority of the songs I heard tonight. I had returned to Savannah Country Day, having heard last week of this Middle School Fine Arts Night. I thought it all started at 6 PM and was so pleased to be on campus a little past 5:30! But, oops! I'd missed two portions by then. Oh, well. You can't have it all - where would you put it?

"Hahahaha! You used to say that quite a bit!"

I did. I think I'm going to bring it back. (smile!)

"Okay, I see the items you've crossed out, so those must have been missed. That means you had orchestra and multiple jazz bands, right?"

You're correct again! The first song in the post title - "Ablaze" - was one the students chose, a modern piece by Chris Bernotas. Why did I say it's 'modern'? The composer's only 56 years old, two years younger than my youngest brother. Several of the students even had solos in that piece.

"Oh, nice!"

The other pieces I liked were "Double Trouble", by Lauren Bernofsky, a 58-year-old woman; "Finger Rock", a piece by 72-yo Bob Phillips [that included finger snapping!!!]; and Johannes Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No. 5", especially because it was performed by three basses. That was really awesome to see! Nice of the teacher to say before that one that "the b-a-s-s is the b-a-s-e of an orchestra." 

"That's a very nice acknowledgement for those folks! They're typically relegated to playing at the very back of the band."

Yes, I agree. I'm sure those parents were pleased as punch about that! Speaking of parents, many of them did not have kids both in the orchestra and any of the three jazz bands. When we had a break so they could change up the stage, over half the audience left and didn't return. Not that anyone would have noticed that wasn't there for the orchestra! By the time the 6th graders came on for the Beginner Jazz Band, Jelks Auditorium was at least as full as it had been.

"Well, that's in keeping with family size now, right? Most folks have no more than two kids, and quite a few have only one. Just think about Stephen, Jason, Michael, Christina, Hope - each have two. Then there's Emily, Christy, Zach, Tyler - just one apiece. Damon is the only one with more than that - but that's a different story. In so many ways he reminds me of our Uncle Jimmy."

Yeah, he ended up with seven children from four different mothers. There's no way he would have been able to afford to have them as students at that school.

"Back on track shall we go?"

Yes, let's! Okay, I'd gotten to the jazz portion of the evening. There were three of those bands: Beginner, Intermediate (7th grade), and Advanced (8th grade). Remember, this was a Middle School only event!

"That's right! So they're the source of the other two songs in the post title?"

Kinda sorta. (smile!) I really liked "Drama For Your Mama" from the 6th-graders, but that was too long to use up there. (smile!) "Blue Beamer" was a very lively piece, but I admit to having a preference for a song I knew and loved: "Gimme Some Lovin' ". Oh, yeah!!! Nice of "The Blues Brothers" movie to give it an extended life on radio!

"I get a chuckle from that "Drama For Your Mama" - hahahaha!"

Right? I think part of my attraction to "Kick In The Brass" is the pun in its name, but, let me tell you, that truly was a kick ass tune!!! There were five - F-I-V-E - trumpet players lined up in front of the others, playing like they were grown ups, too!!! Wow! The look, the sound - just amazing!

"Wow! I know you loved that!"

I did, I most def did. Then they played Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" a couple of songs later and did me proud on that one. I know their grandparents must have been thrilled to hear that one from their past, too. I'm so glad I was there tonight!

balthasar:: a tale of serendipity

Had I not seen these two particular plays so closely together, I would not have caught it.

Both feature a character named 'Balthasar'.

Might that character have been the same person?

When I queried the world wide web, I received an unsatisfying reply.

Apparently, no graduate student has pursued that as a thesis.

I wish that Dr. Joseph Killorin were still alive.

He had such an expansive knowledge of the Bard's plays and I know we could have had quite a discussion about such a thing.

So, what say I approach it on my own?

I say William Shakespeare placed the character in both plays deliberately, perhaps as an inside joke for himself, curious as to whether anyone would catch on.

'Balthasar' was not only Romeo's manservant, but a dear friend as well.

That was evident in "Romeo & Juliet", the play seen tonight, performed by the 7th and 8th grade students at Garrison Arts Academy.

How very age-appropriate for those tragic lovers, non è vero?

That's why I wanted so much to see this version.

I'm so glad to have caught this closing night performance!

I'll be looking forward to future works with Noah Jasso and Adoration Boothe, two of the 14-year-olds advancing to high school, who were absolutely perfect as the teenagers in love, staying in character even at the play's end. 

Kudos to Jaclyn Jackson as the slain 'Tybalt', who stayed in position on the stage from the end of Act I, through intermission, and into Act II, when the body was carried off.

Kudos also to Ke'Aisha Powell, actor for 'Balthasar'.

The absolute dismay shown for having let down 'Romeo', leading to his death, urged me to delve into that character.

 

Could this be the same one who sang "Hey Nonny" on Thursday eve?

That's when I watched the opening night performance of "Much Ado About Nothing" by the 11th and 12th graders at Savannah Country Day.

I speak not of the same actor, of course, as 'Balthasar' was played by Tanner Kaminsky for this high school production.

I speak of the character himself.

This time, as well as being a singer, 'Balthasar' was the manservant for 'Don Pedro', the Prince from Spain, visiting his brother there in Messina.

So, both like-named characters are manservants?

Might it be that both are actually one and the same???

I hold that to be true.

Kindly, hear me out.

"Romeo and Juliet" was penned by Shakespeare between 1591 and 1595 and is set in the city of Verona, in northern Italy.

Picture a younger, more naive, 'Balthasar', perhaps on his first job as a manservant, and naturally forming a close relationship with the 'Montague' teen he serves.

Now, imagine the grief and distress of that young man when he finds the message he gave his charge was incorrect and led not only to his death, but to that of 'Juliet'.

How very heartbroken 'Balthasar' must have been!

Fast forward to 1598-1599, the time when Shakespeare penned "Much Ado About Nothing".

This time he sets the play in Messina, way down in southern Italy.

Perhaps the short elapsed time between these two plays, as well as the physical distance between the two cities of Verona and Messina, led his mind to thoughts of what the young, emotionally-distressed 'Balthasar' might have done in those few years.

Perhaps he left Verona and all its sadness, seeking a new life...

perhaps he moved to Messina and sought work there as a more experienced, less naive, manservant to the wealthy, bringing his singing ability along as an asset...

perhaps.

And so it was written, and so it was done.

Had it not been for these two schools having chosen these two plays for their graduating thespians to perform as their last hurrahs, I would not have had this perspective into a side character.

Right place, right time.

Now, I share that inside joke of the Bard's.

(smile!) 

what a difference a half-century makes... in a musical

First, let me clarify: the production put on at Savannah Country Day School was not written in the 1970's.

"9 To 5: The Musical" did not come into existence until 2008.

However, the movie upon which Dolly Parton based the music and lyrics came out in 1980, meaning it was written and filmed in the last year or so of the seventies decade.

That would be the time when I was in my late teens, much like these high school actors.

Just think about that for a moment.

They performed a story about sexual harassment, a story their grandparents would have been only too familiar with.

Wow.

I wonder if the students asked those older generations about their experiences then?

Perhaps they did.

Perhaps they even watched the movie beforehand, as I did (thanks, Comcast, for the $1 Movie Night reward!), for tips on mannerisms.

However they prepared, I was very impressed with their performances!!!

At the front of the stage, singing "Around Here", are 'Doralee' (Mollie Macfadyen), 'Violet' (Cleo Shelton), and 'Judy' (Gabby Galoni).

Respectively, they're the happily married secretary, the long-employed widow with four children, and the newly-divorced new hire.

Well, that's what they are in the movie version; here, 'Violet' has only a teen son, but the rest still holds true.

That little difference shows up elsewhere, too, such as the boss getting sent to Bolivia instead of Brazil, as well as a little office romance developing between 'Joe' (Paxton Towe) and 'Violet' (and they even have a song together!).

Oh, one more marked change: when the three women are plotting revenge on their boss, the hunting dream of 'Judy' becomes "The Dance Of Death", which was a nice twist for me.

(Get the pun? Hahahaha!)

Speaking of the "villains" in this story, I would be remiss to not give credit to them.

That's Ian Rogers to the far left and Kensie Glass near the stairs.

Respectively, they were the bossman, 'Hart', and his office snitch, 'Roz'.

Perfectly they played their roles!!!

A special shout out to 'Roz' who didn't skip a beat (another pun!) when her wig went flying off during her love song, "Heart To Hart" - that was quite impressive!!!

 

One more thing before I close: incredible set design!

Besides those three movable cubes, there were only a loveseat, the boss' desk and swivel chair, and the bed he became chained to.

Those three cubes had different designs on each of the four faces, allowing them to change the location to a hospital, the office cubicles, even the elevator in the building!

John Suchower would have been so proud.