The story of my 6:45 p.m. "crowing lesson"

Hello readers!

I just experienced one of the best evening activity periods I've had in a long time and I can't wait to share the story of it with you!

Earlier today, during "Peter Pan" rehearsal, the camper playing the title role, Grace K., came up to me and asked if I could help teach her to crow.  If you're not familiar with the musical, Peter Pan often crows when he is proud of himself or the Lost Boys, or as a greeting to those he sees as he flies around Neverland.  Needless to say, there is a bit of crowing involved in the show, and Grace thought she needed work on it (even though she's already a fantastic Peter!), so during evening announcements, I called her for a crowing lesson at the Outdoor Platform.  It was cause for a few confused looks from other campers, but Grace didn't seem to mind!

At 6:45 p.m., we met at the Platform, with my show's assistant stage manager, Mara J.  For a few minutes, we practiced crowing -- a cool thing to do when you're out in the wilderness, I'll have you know!  After we had crowed for a while, we started working on some of Peter's monologues or asides with the audience, including the most famous monologue of the show where Tinkerbell nobly drinks Peter's poisoned medicine to save his life.  It's one of my all-time favorite parts of any show I've seen, ever.  

Back to the Platform: I was sitting about a foot away from Grace as she spoke through the monologue over and over, working on both characterization and memorization.  Both Mara and I were 100% engaged in Grace's incredible performance, and the last time I had her read it, I was almost crying from the start of the monologue...

...and then we got to the point in the script where Peter Pan walks as far downstage as possible and, breaking the fourth wall, pleads with the audience to clap their hands to prove that they do believe in fairies.  As Grace recited the lines through her near-tears, people started clapping!  I turned around and a large group of campers and counselors was sitting behind me, clapping their Balli-hearts out.  Mara and I joined in, and what began as a crowing lesson turned into a performance with a standing ovation.

I don't know how else to explain the moment except for...perfect.  

More soon,

Elizabeth C. 

Ballibay Blogger