Storytelling no matter what happens!?!

The U.S.Postal Service"s unofficial creed used to be "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  The motto is even inscribed on New York's James Farley Post Office, but it has no official status.  I live on a rural dirt road and have noticed a more realistic attitude has been used lately.  The mail still gets through, but sometimes is delayed.

Similarly scheduled programs sometimes need evaluation.  Weather can mean rescheduling or even cancellation.  Audience safety and comfort come first.  Similarly health of the storyteller is a factor.  Can the scheduled program be up to the expectations of the venue?  Years ago I canceled programs to face cancer treatments.  Looking back I believe it was the right decision as my energy level was a major factor.  If the venue had preferred to pursue the contracted program, however, I would still have done it.  Such decisions need to be made mutually.

As "Hello Girl", Oldea Joure Christides

I am currently tapping out this blog one-armed while my arm is in a bright shocking pink cast for a broken wrist.  With historical storytelling programs and a role in a musical also set in a historical time when my shocking pink cast doesn't match I wondered: What to do?  First various sleeves were checked.  YES! My arm can squeeze in -- the 1917 lace dress used in my program as Liberetta Lerich Green was tight, while my World War I uniform sleeves are roomy, and a white cutoff sock helps look like an old-time cast onstage for the musical.  Both types of historical storytelling programs were also able to use a sling for audiences close to the teller, concealing it.  Then comes the question of energy.  I'm a high-energy performer.  Could the programs still work?  Thankfully almost everything else in my life could be set aside.  Audiences have also said YES!

Here are photos from last Saturday in Bay City at the 84th State Conference of the Michigan Society Children of the American Revolution showing how it went.

This is MSCAR president, Madden Brady, who has made World War I and restoration of Bay City "Doughboy" statue his focus.

A few more members of the audience

Ovelia Taylor

It was a great opportunity to spread the word about this too often overlooked part of our history as we near the centennial of the U.S entering the war.  Adults there also agreed this is an important story in Women's History as these women battled for 60 years to gain recognition as veterans.  It was a pleasure to bring the program to them.

Now to survive The Mystery of Edwin Drood -- February 17 with additional shows on February 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26, 2017 at Central United Methodist Church. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 4 p.m. 
 

Drood Ensemble ...note that wrist

and, while I'm battling feeling overwhelmed, I confess I just couldn't resist an excellent script, a director with whom I have wonderful past theatre experience, and fellow actors I value.

The story of this storyteller continues, fortunately March 3 the cast on my arm is scheduled for removal.

Energy...Cutting Back?

Bad memory?  Doing too much?

Dunno, but this is same wrist broken a year ago & am exhausted!  Last year taught sign language class left-handed...great mental exercise switching from dominant hand.  Feel more beaten up than a few years ago in chemo!  At least my hair stays, but needs help.

Am typing strictly left-handed in case my overly-sensitive nerves under cast need rest.  I know it affects my sleep.

Being a high-energy person this is maddening.  Can force enough out to do storytelling gigs without it hindering performance, but beyond that?  I'm also 2 weeks from an admittedly minor, but fun, role in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.  Have looked forward to all the improvisation the show involves.  It's a musical supposedly performed by a ragtag group called the Music Hall Royale in 1895.  The show within the show, after improvising with the audience and an opening song, begins with this explanation:

 and there's other opportunities throughout the show for the performers to let their other selves pop out...complete with dialects.  For my part I have chosen to be the only Scot among all those Brits. . .

Scotland Forever! At Waterloo 200 website find this explanation about the painting:

This wonderful painting depicts the 2nd (Royal North British) Regiment of Dragoons, a British cavalry regiment later known as the ‘Scots Greys’, at full charge during the Battle of Waterloo. It was not only painted by a woman, which was rare enough among battlefield artists of the 19th century, but by a woman who had never witnessed a battle.

Lois:  There's more, so I hope you visit the Waterloo site and also Wikipedia's article about Scotland_Forever!

This important painting of the Waterloo battle was made in 1881, so this Scottish rallying cry seems apt for my character.   The topic of being a British Subject, but not English, is also cause for song in the show.  

Can you tell I really want to do this?  I even have a story ready about how my arm got in a cast.

What to do?

I once looked back at those months while in chemo and decided I was right to cancel gigs because my energy level was definitely NOT my normal.  Unfortunately -- or maybe fortunately for my own craving activity -- February has storytelling gigs, some other work, and the show is the final 2 weekends in February.  It's not possible to cancel or find replacements this close to their dates.  I am going to rest this arm.  Having my fingers outside the cast has let me try to do too much.  Hopefully I only have to wear it for 1 week further in March and not until mid-March.

It's a matter of prioritizing.  Singers often must rest their voices.  Theatre origins and training long ago taught me: Your body is your instrument, so take care of it.  

I'm trying, but as my family knows, the reply to that is: Yes, you're very trying!