What's in a Name? Limericks and a Video Worth a Thousand Words

Cindy1 and Prince1 stand in the royal garden, ostensibly preparing to make out some more, when the clock starts chiming midnight.

Prince1:  Tell me your name.

Cindy1:  The Clock.

Prince1:  What kind of ridiculous name is that?  Well, she did say I would think her name was silly.  And what do I care if the girl of my dreams has a silly name.  It's a lot better than the chick with the creaky knee.

But alas, during these internal deliberations Cindy1 has hightailed it out of the garden and, depending on Prince1's reaction time, made it all the way back to her chair by the fire before Prince1 gave any thought to pursuit.  But what's this?  Cindy1 left behind a glass slipper which luckily did not revert to its previous form of an antique glass coffee percolater.  That would have made the search scene much more difficult.  Incidentally, in the act of lurking backstage I discovered the fact that Cindy1 leaves that garden wearing two glass slippers.  I have kept this to myself until now so as not to spoil the magic for Prince1 and the rest of you.

At the request of Palace Guard1 I authored some limmericks.  It is my pleasure to torture you with them now.

There once was a show that started with a flash

And the flames shooting out might have ignited the sash

If a sash were a part of the gown that she wore

The burns that resulted might have been quite sore

The boxes ignited with a flash and a pop

Fairy Godmother's wand looked a bit like a mop

And the audience clapped and were generous with laughter

And Cinderella lived happily ever after.

Four mice in a hole - in a hole in the floor

A hole that appeared with an opening trap door

Fairy Godmother said words and waved her wand

And nobody noticed that she was a blond

Next there came flashes and smoke

And before any more words were spoke

There appeared four ponies, which in fact were phonies

These horses were white unitard-clad chicks

Who after their dance were ready for a fix

They guided the carriage to the edge of the stage

The horse dancing girls are all the rage

The palace guard prepares to blow his horn

He has been preparing for this moment since he was born

He puffs up his cheeks and turns his face red.

And visions of sugar plums start dancing in his head.

So instead of escorting the princess to the ball

It will be up to Cinderella to do it all

And finally this video, created by Gary Dieter, will be where I go when I want to remember.

If you saw us live, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  If you didn't, perhaps this video will make you wish you had!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVpaXk5yBwM

In the words of Fairy Godmother1, I'll see all of you later.

In the words of The Terminator, Come with me if you want to live.

Sorry, wrong quote.  I meant, I'll be back.

Opening Night!

What is it about Opening Night?  True, we're just going out there and doing the same thing we've done repeatedly in rehearsal, but the night has a feeling of experimentation, is fraught with emotion, and is heavy with the knowledge that we don't know how this will play before a live audience.  And then it turns out that your effort and tears and emotions-laid-bare, and singing and acting and dancing and comedic timing and the sets and the costumes and the music and stage magic - are enough, and even more than enough, to capture 400 in your world for a couple of hours on a Friday night.  I think I'm safe in saying that it is not possible to get much higher than on Opening Night.  Not in this life, anyway.

It was interesting to the me that the audience found humor in places I did not necessarily notice.  Generally speaking, I try to notice humor that is overlooked.  It fuels my writing, and my life.  Here are a couple of unexpected laughs, each one of which caused me to laugh along in surprise.  This is not an exhaustive list.  I lurk backstage as much as possible, but not all the time.  I am also engaged in mining non-existent humor in other places.

Fairy Godmother1 to Cindy1:  Stand back.  This could be dangerous (when about to supersize the pumpkin)

FG1 to Cindy1:  Well don't go kicking any rocks or anything (with your glass slippers)

FG1 to Cindy1:  This is no joke! (after summarizing the reverse transformations to take place at midnight)

Cindy1 to Prince1:    You might be surprised. (answering the question about the harm of leaving a few minutes past midnight)

Prince1 to Cindy1:    I tell you I love you and you don't say anything (about Cindy1 not replying to Prince1's assertion of love)

Herald1 to Step Sister1:  Space is limited. (regarding ballroom capacity while considering SS1's ample body)

And a word about happily-ever-after.  Did you notice the looming issues between Cindy1 and Prince1?  For instance, did you notice that she never tells him her name?  Do you know where Prince1 hears her name?  Step Mother1 blurts it out in the 11th hour before the last fitting of that size 11 glass slipper (sorry Cindy1, I couldn't resist).  So Prince1 hears Cindy1's name from his future Step-Mother-In-Law.  That's right Prince1.  You'll be related!  Maybe you'll put her and her and Step Sister1 and Step Sister2 (your future Step-Sisters-In-Law) up in a nice suite in the castle, so you'll be under the same roof! 

Ah, wedded bliss.  Enjoy your Champagne, Prince1.

Scientific Inconsistencies, Kate Middleton and Examiner.com

From backstage yesterday I observed the mouse/horse/rat/coachman/pumpkin/carriage/rags/ballgown transformation scene.  And I determined that there's a lot going on there!  That's an amazing scene.

And yet, there is some unintentional comedy that I also observed.

Fairy Godmother1: Why don't you go find a nice pumpkin?

Cindy1: Oh, look.  Here's one.  Conveniently placed behind the edge of this curtain here.

Have you been to a pumpkin patch lately?  Selecting the ideal pumpkin is just about as difficult as picking a nice Christmas tree.  Is is too tall or too squat?  Is it dented?  What about that rotten spot, or the rodent-chewed spot?  I liked this scene a lot better when Cindy1 had to at least run off stage and scour the prop table to find the pumpkin, while FG1 entertained herself by checking her hair in the reflection of the star on her wand.  That's real life.  What we have now is like something out of a fantasy story.  Which, I guess, uh, this is.

About that pumpkin.  FG1 is about to supersize it when she starts asking Cindy1 questions about pumpkin physiology, and realizes that some preparation would be prudent.  We wouldn't want to supersize the seeds and the pumpkin goo, now would we?  But one minute later FG1 identifies a fat rat and his brother, and turns them into Henchmen.  Or something.  I can identify a fat rat from 30 feet away.  But his brother?  FG1 is able to sex (that is - identify the sex of, dirty minds) a rat and also determine sibling status from 30 feet away?  What a woman!  Without closer scrutiny and extensive behavioral studies, I would be concerned that coming through the smoke would be the Coachman and some chick from the local Rat pickup joint.  Yikes!

Just out of curiosity I did a web search on the following terms: Cinderella Kate Middleton.  I am pleased to report I am not the first person to have thought of this. Check this out: http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/05/cinderella-vs-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-which-royals-wore-it-best.html

OK, It was I who previewed the show in the Examiner.  But still.

Check this out:  http://tinyurl.com/3t38jy7

My top two favorite moments from the show.

1.  The King's Waltz.  We have, over the weeks, grown in confidence in this number to the point where we can sing, dance, have eye contact with each other, and quite obviously enjoy ourselves.  No acting necessary.  And don't we all strive to be able to say that in all aspects of life?  That we are so much in the moment that we are genuine, and truthful, and real?  I love it.  No acting necessary.

2.  Disrobing at the end of the show.  And the sighs of relief from my fellow cast members indicate I am not alone in this favorite moment.

Favorite random quotes, heard in random places, randomly:

1.  Excuse me, would you please tie me up?

2.  Hold me tighter.