Rantings

I haven't really blogged about this, so it may come as a bit of a surprise to some.  I am currently in a pantomime at Washington Arts Centre, called Snow White and the Magic Mirror.

However, this is not an advertisement.  Although, if you do want to come along and see it, the tickets cost £3 and there are six more performances to go, Friday 16th at 7:30pm, Saturday 17th at 1pm and 7:30pm, and the following weekend, 23rd and 24th at the same times!

Right, now that the uncomfortable bit is out of the way ...

I get very, VERY nervous before the first show.  I'm sure you've all felt it at some point ... you know when your mouth goes dry and your heart is racing and you feel like you can't breath?  I felt so bad that seconds before I was due to make my first appearance, as I was standing behind the curtain waiting for my cue, I actually started considering leaving the Theatre Group after the last show. I felt nauseous and my legs were wobbly.

So, my cue came and on I went.  I play the evil old hag (typecasting perhaps?) so the moment the wicked queen casts a spell and turns herself into the hag, there is an explosion, a puff of smoke and she runs off as I run on quickly, cackling loudly.  I then rush off the front of stage and up the auditorium steps, scaring the bairns, shrieking and cackling as I go.  Well, I made one of them cry, didn't I? As if I wasn't feeling bad enough already! I thought, "I just can't do this."

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I survived the first show, although I felt mentally drained and wanted to cry. My foot was throbbing (I'd broken my toe a couple of days before Christmas and running around on stage in beaten up old DMs was a bad idea) and I really needed a drink. So I went home and had seven whiskys.  Not good.  I feel guilty now.  I just want to make it perfectly clear here and now that I do not have a drink problem.  But turning up at the theatre the next day for the matinee performance with a slightly woolly head and a dry mouth was A Bad Thing.

But, you know what? I can't wait till next Friday!  All that anguish and nervousness, all that physical and mental discomfort was worth every second.  I can honestly say I am proud to be part of a wonderful group of caring, supportive and talented people. I feel we put on a great show and when people come up to you afterwards to tell you so, then I think we must be doing something right.

Roll on Friday!

Posted via email from MrsFirestarter's posterous