First show of the summer...check!

Hello readers!

I have fantastic news for you all: last night, my cast of the script-in-hand show had a smash hit with the first show of the summer! Eleven campers, with the majority of them under the age of 10, performed "3 by Munsch," a staged reading of 3 stories by the children's author Robert Munsch. For those who are not familiar with the process of a staged reading at Camp Ballibay, it is as follows: 2-3 days of rehearsal time, 1 dress rehearsal with tech and video, and then...it's show time! I love everything I do as a Ballibay staff member, but in my opinion, the staged reading is the highlight of the summer. It is a chance for campers who have never done theater before or who are a little nervous about being on stage (or veteran actors and actresses, as well!) to be the stars of a show. Last night we did 3 small plays in one, based off of the storiesStephanie's Ponytail, Thomas' Snowsuit, and The Paper Bag Princess.

Iris S. and Mia W.

I gave the actors and actresses three notes before the show started: pace yourselves during the show, project and speak loudly, and (most importantly) enjoy yourselves and be proud of everything you do on stage tonight. They followed all of the directions perfectly, and even elaborated a little bit on all of the staging and direction I had given them during our two days of rehearsal. My favorite moment of the show was when 7-year-old Mia W., who played the Paper Bag Princess' Lady-in-Waiting received the biggest laugh of the show. In a portion of The Paper Bag Princess, the narrator remarks that the dragon "didn't even have enough fire left to roast a marshmallow." Mia had been given the instructions to hold a marshmallow on a stick and attempt to roast it. Before the show started she took me aside and said, "EC, if I do a good job, can I have the marshmallow after the show is over?" and I had said she definitely could. In the heat of the moment, or perhaps because she just secretly planned it all along, right after trying to roast her marshmallow, she stared into the audience, smiled, and the put the entire marshmallow from the stick into her mouth. It barely fit and she just stood on staged and chewed until she was done. By this time, the audience was in an uproar, clapping and laughing. When the show was over she told me it was the best night of her life, "so far."

Here's to more best nights!

More soon,

Elizabeth C.

Ballibay Blogger