Hank & I went to see "Lost in Yonkers" a Neil Simon play at the
Antrim Playhouse. This is the one that I got the part for & turned it down.
Back story:
Hank & I went to see Caberet at the Antrim, the oldest community theater (100 years) in the country, back in spring. At intermission I get to talking with some lovely folks, who turns out to be Bill & Terri Conroy, the president & producer of the theater company. He's asking me if I'm local (I am) and if I want to be part of community theater. I tell him, he doesn't want me I'm a terrible stage mother. My son, Larry loves to perform, he's been in school plays: Really Rosey (as Pierre), Once on this Island (the father), and How to Succeed in Business (Tackaberry), and he plays piano beautifully. And Bill says, hey were casting June 20th & 21st for 2 parts for teenage boys, how old is Larry? And I say 13. Perfect! They're 13 & 15.
So we see the movie of the play, to get an idea what it's about. So I take Larry to the audition June 20th.He's 1 of 8 boys trying for 2 parts. Bill says if you don't get a part, blame him. While we're there I'm helping the woman who's auditioning for the part of Gert run her lines. She's having trouble with the funny way Gert talks...exhaling the first part of the sentence & inhaling the second. I've got it down pat, because I saw the movie, and thought it was so funny. So I'm teaching her, she's not getting it. Someone says I should try out. Larry did a great job, he's loud, funny, good body language. Bill whispers to us after the audition, he's got a call back.
While we're there, I learn that Antrim is a very prestigious theater to get into. Professional actors get their start there, building a rep.
So I go back the next night. Larry's with me in the car. I'm nervous, I'm going to turn around, I can't do it, I've got stage fright. Larry's like: you got to try Mom. You'll be great. etc. So I only do it so he won't see me chicken out. I did it, and got a call back too.
Ok, night of the call back. Bill calls me into the dressing room. Bill says I don't even have to try out, I've got the part, but he's got questions for me: How would I feel about being in a play with my son, if Bill had to correct him (because Bill's directing this one), would I be defensive? And I said, no, I would yield to his authority, in fact I would probably be on Bill's side. Then I tell him, that as long as we're being honest, I got to tell him that I won't take the part, if Larry isn't in the play, because I'm all about my kids, and besides, it's really Larry's dream to act, I'm just caught up in the moment, and scared to death of being on stage.
Larry tries out with the other 3 boys. He's really good, but he's also not listening to Bill's direction, and he's correcting the other, older, professional actors' lines. No good. He doesn't get the part, even though he's far more talented. Damn.
Ok, I know Larry can be attitudey. Did you see his
blog?
Fast forward to last night. The play was great. It was like Broadway, so professional. It was funny seeing the actors that I met at rehearsal up on stage, in costume & all. Blanch, the woman who played the grandma was 87. I remember her at rehearsal; so awsome, it was scarey! The kids were wonderful, although Larry would have been better. And I would have been a better Gert.
Although I did the right thing for Larry, turning down the part, I feel a little bit sad. (I can't feel just one way about anything). Those laughs could have been for me. Those applause. That fame.
