The Show Must Go On
Last month I wrote about my wife, daughter, and niece auditioning for roles in our community’s children’s theater performance of Oliver. They had less than ten days of rehearsals, and rarely practiced at home (a nice break for me,) but said they were ready for opening night this Friday. At least my niece, Bailey, and Olivia were ready. My wife’s been struggling with morning sickness for the last three weeks, her hormones so out of whack she can barely get out of bed unless it’s to run to the bathroom.
Jen’s a trooper though and went to each practice, said she wouldn’t let everyone down. In her eyes it didn’t matter she was so nauseated that she couldn’t drive herself two minutes to the theater. The show must go on and she wasn’t a quitter. What would the girls think if she wasn’t performing with them? What kind of example would she be setting?
All three girls made it to opening night, although Jen bypassed the limo ride to the red carpet for fear she might splatter it orange. Olivia and Bailey played the cutest little orphans and I couldn’t have been more proud. Bailey’s a talented actress with the biggest expressions while Olivia’s more of a miniature version of myself, her face so serious and movements small and calculated. I was so impressed though and couldn’t get over my shy little girl getting up in front of hundreds. In the last performance, Olivia was buried behind the bigger kids and didn’t have much to do, but in this show, she was right up front, singing and dancing a split-second behind everyone else, but hanging through the whole thing. My cheeks are still a little sore from the giant smile I had plastered on my face.
The girls weren’t in the second half of the play, the part where Jen came in. At home, there’s seldom more than five minutes of silence between dry heaves, and I was afraid she’d be balled up on the stage. I didn’t see how she could pull it off, but she got through the song and nailed all her lines. The night was a success, only eight more to go.
Saturday morning was worse than usual and Jen finally listened to me, told the director she just couldn’t do it. She hated abandoning the cast like that, but there was no way she could have made it. I was more proud of her for making this decision than I was for her sucking it up the night before. She had been so worried about others’ opinions that she was neglecting herself. I think a lot of us are guilty of that. It seems like a noble thing to do, but if we don’t put ourselves first than we are no good to others. The show still went on, both Olivia and Bailey completely understanding her absence. Olivia even said she’s trying out for Beauty and the Beast next month even though Jen won’t be. She’s caught the acting bug and I doubt it’s going away anytime soon. The show will go on, just minus one pregnant mommy who has more important things to deal with right now.
