Fifteen years ago, my brother, Daniel, and I appeared in A Christmas Carol. The show wasn't put on by Children's Theater back then. It was a Theater Tuscaloosa production.
Paul Looney was the director. I thought he was wonderful. He would sometimes smoke and yell and curse and I loved it. I ran in to him somewhere several years ago and he still remembered my name. I get excited about seeing people like that like most people get excited about celebrities. I have the same feeling about an old art professor of mine. Knowing they are in the world makes me happy.
I was Frances and Daniel was Peter. The first thing I remembered when I started thinking about that long ago production was that Tiny Tim used his cain to try and look up my dress while we waited for our cue to run down the theaters aisle. I remember being friends with the man who played my father (Bob Cratchett). He worked at the Tuscaloosa Candy Company downtown and I imagined him with a giant taffee pulling machine every time I drove by, not understanding that cigarettes and alcohol are called "candy" as well. I remember going to a cast party at someones house near downtown Northport, and being advised to try the chicken salad at the Globe Restaurant. I remember working on the blocking of that scene where Martha hides to surprise her father inside the Cratchett home, and the turkey (or was it a pudding) we used as a prop.
That was the last time I had the opportunity to participate in an actual production.
4 comments:
Good memories! Have you ever considered doing another production?
You're always surprising, Kelly. I can't stand smoking, cursing, or especially yelling! I don't think I would've liked the guy. What was it about him that you liked? I'm curious.
I've been trying to figure out how to answer that question (Jamey's). I talked to Michael about it last night and he said, "You do like Miss Parker." And I guess that is the answer.
So I'll rephrase it so you who don't know who Miss Parker is will know what I'm talking about. I think I enjoy people who are highly critical, who curse and swear and yell because I'm afraid to do those things. Except for the highly critical part, obviously. (Or not obviously, because if it were obvious I wouldn't be pointing it out, right?)
I like people who are real in a way that means they aren't very concerned about what their charges think of them.
Tina, I would love to do another production. When Steve Ray was still working on his studies at the University Michael and I attended everything he put on.
I tried out for another Theater Tuscaloosa production a long time ago, but I was at an awkward stage according to their needs. I was too old to play the kids parts and I was too young to play the adult parts. These days the time investment that a play would require is simply impossible. I do miss the theater though. It was one of the few places where I felt like a really belonged.
I appreciate getting more insight into your intriguing mind, Kelly! :)
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