PORCH PONDERINGS

Busy Time

The community theater production is over for this year. I was in two theater groups, one in Roundup and one in Musselshell. I had small parts in both plays, but that's okay. Less pressure to remember hundreds of words. More of a chance to make an impression on stage. And it seems I did.

In one show, I was on stage the entire time, but had virtually no lines. I was just a customer in a coffee shop. So, I thought, what could I do? So I read books, I fiddled with flowers, I pet a stuffed cat, drank imaginary coffee. And it added to the drama but didnt' detract from the action. And someone mentioned that fact.

In the other show I was a 'winsome' maid. Well, I had to look up the definition of winsome. I am NOT winsome. But nevertheless, I was memorable. I again was not on stage much. But when I was, by golly, I thought, the audience would remember me. And they did. I even got a bouquet from a friend. My first ever for a show! Wondrous.

As I often tell people, there are no small parts, only small actors. You make the best of what you are assigned.

We had a good time traveling to Musselshell for practice. A group of 5 carpooled each time. So we had diverse conversations between us, included the 16 year old of the group, and loved every minute. As well as kept an eye on the road for deer, elk, raccoons, even an owl in the middle of the road one night. The stretch of road, 20 miles, is considered by me an 'animal suicide' highway. A cast member's parents were rammed by an elk on their way home after one of the shows.

But I am glad it's over. The time involved, the stress of performing, the worrying about scheduling. Now we are into OctoPrep here on the site. Busy month for that. I have also scheduled some classes in Billings for writing. The same person who held the free seminar earlier that I went to is having 5 classes over October and November at a bookstore. I will pay a nominal fee to attend his classes. He was wonderful.

Fall is upon us here in Montana. Days are shorter, cooler. Soon it will snow. Yep. Soon.