How Sweet It Is: Opening Night with Snickers

How sweet it is! And how sweet they are! I know this is a food blog and trust me, this is a food story. As is my custom, I do put food in all of my plays. (Do You Always Put Food in your Plays?) The Magic Fishbone did indeed have fish: cod and salmon. Also turnips and references to cheese, bread, crumpets, jam, butter and a proper English trifle. If my young thespians don't go into theatre, they might be swayed to go to culinary school!
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I had two casts for the show and so two openings. They couldn't have been lovelier. But they are not without their terrors. That's where the wonder of chocolate enters the scene.

Sometimes ... when props are missing, costume pieces are in a sink and 50 students backstage sound like an earthquake - creating enough energy to send a man to the moon - I wonder, "Why do I do theatre with kids?" The wondering lasts a few minutes and then something happens to remind me why I love it.

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A very shy, young girl was having her very first opening night. How special is that? She retreated and could barely talk after getting into costume. We spoke about getting in front of the audience for the first time, how they are rooting for you and how much easier things get once you've finally said your first line; once you can see that the show is going according to plan. The older students chimed in agreeing. She remained wide-eyed and quiet. She looked at the floor, looked at the clock and stood in a trance. Her older sister who is her security, was ushering. My co-director and I produced bowls of treats as is our custom. (It does produce high energy for an hour!) I had mini Milky Ways and mini Snickers bars. I do confess a love of frozen mini-Snickers bars. I had been known to delve into my children's Halloween bags and swipe them. (Bad mom.) I was kidding the cast and mentioned more than once that they needn't finish all the Snickers. I was not adverse to taking a few snickers home with me.

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Ten minutes later the bowl was empty. Not one Snickers bar or Milky Way remained. The show went on and was indeed high energy and lovely. The shy young actress was grand - rising to the occasion. There were some proud directors in the back. After the show, when we were milling around, a small hand took mine and pressed it.

A Snickers bar was put into my hand.

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"I saved it for you to take home." From my terrified thespian who had a successful opening night. Sweet actors, sweet opening, sweet Snickers. The rewards of theatre with kids: young actors and Snickers.