Rehearsals for Mirror Mirror: The Verdict

Have you heard the news?

CLICK HERE for the cast list of Oracle Productions' next play: Mirror Mirror.

Judah and I auditioned both Tuesday and Wednesday night. I had planned to take him on Wednesday only, but then I realized that having him audition for two consecutive nights would be a relatively good indicator of how well he would handle rehearsals and performing for multiple consecutive nights.

Even though we planned to leave auditions early, he was ready to stay to the end, having napped all afternoon. He begged me to go back into the theater so he could see the other actors "memorize their lines." He found someone to sit next to and stayed put, sitting perfectly still and quiet while each group of actors took the stage.

The first night, he was a little nervous. After all, it was his first time EVER delivering lines from a stage before a live audience. So he held my hand walking up to the stage and didn't let go until we walked off the stage. He forgot his first line (he kept getting stuck on it, trying to correct the grammar), so I whispered it to him. His second line he delivered with gusto. He projected his voice perfectly, used appropriate facial expressions, and even incorporated some body language. As usual, his inflection was perfect. If you've ever had a conversation with Judah, you know that he is one expressive kid who has no problem turning up the volume.

The next night Judah acted like he owned the place. He memorized his lines, walked on stage by himself, sat down right in the middle of the stage (without holding my hand), delivered his lines without prompting, used body language, facial expressions, inflection . . . and in typical Judah fashion, he projected his voice like a pro. He even left the stage heading in the opposite direction from me. I felt like a theater mom whose professional 5-year-old actor was shining at yet another audition. Judah wanted to stay to the end, but he was already exhausted and I wanted to be able to focus on auditioning for the role of Morgana, the beautiful, wicked queen.

During my last scene, I read for Queen Morgana while David Durham (who married my husband and I nearly 10 years ago), read for King Arthur. At the end of the instense-turned-poignant scene, we received an "illegal" applause. I said, "We're not supposed to do that!" Then, I looked up and saw the director and his two assistants clapping. I got so nervous that my arms started itching. I spent the next two hours talking incessantly to my husband about how much I wanted the role and how excited I was at the prospect of doing a show with my son and how I couldn't believe we received an applause.

Turns out . . . Judah landed the role of Brody, the character for whom he "read," and I was cast as Queen Morgana, who is one of the leads. Woo Hoo!!! I'm beside myself with excitement!

Judah asked me after the first night what he would do if he got on stage and forgot his lines because he might get nervous having to say them in front of a bunch of people he doesn't know. I said, "You said your lines last night in front of a bunch of people you don't know," to which he replied, "But they were really nice!" So I reminded him of J.J. the little lamb at storytime (at the downtown main library). She makes her entrance with fearful trembling, but once she realizes all the faces are friendly, she is relieved and greets everyone with cheerfulness. She makes her exit by blowing everyone a huge kiss. I was delighted to be able to encourage him by bringing up J.J.'s experience and saying that once you get to know them, most people are very friendly--just like the ones you met last night.

Judah makes friends pretty quickly. He's turned it into an art form. By the second night of auditions, everyone was calling him by name and asking him questions. Whenever someone would ask Judah if he was reading for Brody, he would say, "No. I don't know HOW to read!"

He occasionally mentions to me that he doesn't know how he will be able to be in the play since he doesn't know how to read, but I continually remind him that he has several of his books, songs, nursery rhymes, and scriptures memorized just by hearing and practicing them over and over again. Even the people who know how to read will have to memorize their lines for the performances, which was a welcome surprise for Judah.

I have to admit that I'm a little nervous about Judah being able to handle night after night of rehearsals and then having to perform for three consecutive nights over two consecutive weekends--I mean, he is only five years old. In fact, he just turned five in March. At the same time, I remember all the times we've walked into a theater when he's asked, "Do I get to be on STAGE?" and how much fun he had with his acting classes at the Nashville Children's Theater (I can't wait to tell Julee, his acting teacher about his new role!) and how often he's asked, "I'm a really good actor, right, Mom?" The kid is always dressing up, getting into character, and roping newly found friends into some imaginary play. He LOVES this stuff.

So I suppose that if he gets enough rest during the day (and plenty of good food), he should be fine. I've been looking forward to doing a show with my son for years--I'm so happy that it's happening in two months!

July 31, August 1-2, and August 7-9 at David Lipscomb's Shamblin Theater

Save the dates! They'll be here before you know it, and you definitely don't want to miss this show!