THE LITTLE THINGS

I love my job. I often loath my job, but most days I totally dig my job. Then there are days when I absolutely love my job. Today was one of them.

Today was our final run through in the rehearsal hall before we load into the theater. Most of our designers joined us, as did several board members, the supertitle operators, the entire costume crew, parents of children, church goers and a few other folks I was not expecting.

I did manage to cram everyone into the hall and start the run. While getting everyone to fit and starting rehearsal made me happy, this isn't what made my day.

What did make my day was one of our supers misreading the schedule and not showing up in time for her entrance. This particular super was playing the part of Manuelita, the girl that Carmen (of Carmen) slashes with a cigar cutting tool. She's dragged onstage by 2 burly choristers and proceeds to kick and scream and claw at Carmen, all the while being held back and man handled by sed burly choristers.

Enter the stage manager. Since my ASM was busy giving cues, I stood in for Manuelita and had the chance that few stage managers get: to kick some tenors in the shins and to scream at the diva...without getting fired.

I told the burlies that I was going to really fight them, and fight them I did. On cue, they grabbed me by my armpits (good thing I shaved) and hauled me out onstage, with me yelling and hissing, kicking and punching, stomping (when my feet touched the ground) and tearing, and lounging at Carmen.

The scene lasted for about 5 minutes, with a couple charges at Carmen by me and with me being grabbed, lifted off my feet and restrained by the burlies.

I LOVED IT!

I wish I could do justice to the feeling in my description, but

WHOA! I L-O-V-E-D IT!!! Is that wrong??

I guess cathartic is a fitting word.

I was congratulated on my performance by stunned choristers, amazed children, and the happy director who described my performance as the best "women in prison" scene he's directed. He thought I was only going to "walk" the part.

Walk when I can throw a major fit onstage?

I love my job. (said, of course, a day before tech)