Good Luck, Old Chum. Good Health. Goodbye.

It's closing night of My Fair Lady. I'm starting my journey for this show backwards. It's harder and easier to do it this way. I lose some perspective, but the nostalgia that I'm already feeling keeps the pain of a show ending at bay. A little.
I didn't get the part I wanted. I felt cheated. It wasn't until we started running the show that I realized my director, Adam, who's also a dear friend, was letting me on stage A LOT. More than anyone but the Big Leads. And I got to play both Cockney and Proper. And I got to dance in all the big, cool numbers.
I started feeling grateful for this about a month ago.
Lesson one - don't feel cheated until you get the full story.
Lesson two - trust your director. I learned this lesson several times. It wasn't easy, which is why I must have needed to learn it a few times.
This was the second show I did with my family - my husband, Craig, and son, Caden. It was a mixed blessing, too. But as the show closes, the wonder of this blessing far outweighs what was tough, namely Craig being late often, missing a few times, and so loopy we didn't get to waltz in the big waltz number. And Caden having misgivings because he was missing Scout camp. They all trickle into minor annoyances as I feel full of Mrs. Hopkins and all she went through. And Lady Boxington and all she taught me.
Those were my two parts. Mrs. Hopkins - a desperate woman, afraid to raise her daughter (my new friend Amanda) on her own so she pursues Alfie (played by Ray - a new, dear friend), who is already involved with someone else. Mrs. Hopkins gave me my only scripted dialogue in the show. She made me lots of friends, was my first slightly sexy part, and because of her, I got to dance in the high stepping, fun Cockney dances, "Get Me to the Church On Time" and "With a Little Bit of Luck."

Lady Boxington is married to my real-life husband, Craig, who played Lord Boxington. It is a surreal kind of life where I can lay in bed and talk character development about a community theater show with my husband. Okay, it's awesome. With Craig I got to be in the "Ascot Gavotte" number, the black and white costume song and dance that pretty much defines My Fair Lady. I felt gorgeous, proper, and had so much fun with her. The scene where Eliza (Shannon - whom I adore) flips out and screams, "Move your bloomin' arse!" was way too much fun. Lady Boxington was scandalized. I was delighted. Corena played our daughter Ella Boxington. In real life I have no daughters. In My Fair Lady, I had two! I also acquired an amazing sister, Larisa. Truly amazing.

Old friends and new shared this special experience. I will blog on this in the next few days. For now, I am tired, need to cry a little, and let my feet heal until tomorrow.

Keep Playing! Even when you know closing night breaks off a little piece of your heart!