I TRIED THREE TIMES TO TALK MYSELF OUT OF IT. After reading a email about my time slot to audition I decided I'd go ahead and audition for the THEATRE AT THE RUIN Sunday morning for a part. No alarm clock was set and with the time change this morning, I woke late. When I checked emails, there was one from the Director to remind me that I had an audition.
Got groomed, dressed, put a little make-up on and drove to Volland. I was early and sat in the car for a little bit then got out of my car and walked across soggy ground onto the sidewalk along side the Volland Store building.
I thought the sidewalk would be better to walk on than walking through the snow. As my right foot reached the snow on the walk, there was ice and I began to fall. I'm falling...really? I fell and thought my head was going to hit a bench, but I managed to sway my weight landing on my big backside. Down I went. Lord, Are you trying to tell me something? Should I just get up and go HOME?
I sat there for a few seconds and then wondered how am I going to get up? hah. I managed and went indoors with a wet backside. I told the Ladies I had a wet bottom because I fell. Both Ladies were very nice to me. Seemed concerned. I was handed a piece of paper to fill out in the Kitchen as an audition was going on.
I auditioned by reading a couple of stories. I confess I wasn't the best...lacked animated enthusiasm. Could have hammed it up some I suppose, Just about as quickly as I started I was done.
When talking myself out of auditioning, I managed to remind myself that I have so much going on. I told my husband before I had opened my email that I wasn't going to go audition because I had way too much to do at HOME and the COTTAGE. THEN I read the email. What should I do? I had signed up for an audition a couple of months ago. Auditioning doesn't mean that I'll get a part, so I changed my mind and went.
The VICTORY in this is...1) that I showed up with soggy britches.
2) I stood in front of a couple women from Babson College and 3) I read out loud a few stories for them. A) I didn't pass out and B) I didn't shake to death. C) I read... meaning I tried out, and D) audition over. It's been years since I have auditioned for anything. Years.
I lived to tell about this. Drove HOME in wet pants and that's that.
As a youth, I loved being involved with PLAYS/THEATRE. Living Art. In a few days, I'll hear yay or nay. Either way, I did it. Now back to cleaning up the JUNK ROOM.
This is one place that I can be completely myself and not be concerned about hair, make-up, posture or how loud I project my voice. No acting necessary. No parts to remember. T-shirt and blue jeans on. Barefoot. I'll put my best foot forward and press on. The JUNK ROOM awaits me.
In the latter half of 2021, Beth and Mary collected stories, past and present, from Wabaunsee County residents. These stories will be woven into a completely new, unique script for Theatre at the Ruin, a community based theatre production in June 2022. While the Babson College professors adapted these stories and adventures into a script, Mike Lillich and his crew revitalized the limestone foundation of Otto Kratzer’s home in Volland. Dubbed the Ruin, the new space will host Theatre at the Ruin, and more events in future.
