Saturday the 15th of December I was FINALLY going to get to perform in a play again. The last time I was on stage was 5.5 years ago in a production of Antigone. We'd found out I was pregnant with our firstborn two days before the run started. My morning sickness (which turned out to be the less than charming hyperemesis gravidarum) had started, add to that I had quit smoking cold turkey and obviously couldn't enjoy a post performance drink, it wasn't the most enjoyable week of performances but it was still good fun. I started doing drama in my spare time at the age of 7, by the time I was 15 I was performing in a minimum of 4 plays a year (often many more). I was definitely what you'd call a "drama geek" and I was more than proud of the title. I had already done fewer plays in the year before Antigone as my (now) husband and I had moved to the countryside and there was no public transport running late enough to comfortably partake in rehearsals. I somehow managed to make it work for that last play, but it involved catching the last of two trains (hoping that you didn't miss the connecting one) and then an hour's walk back home, mostly uphill and through a forested shortcut we'd found. But it was worth it because I had missed giving all my spare time to theatre in the months we'd lived outside town.
Three kids, two countries and three houses later I just haven't had the time to take part in any plays. So when one of the other mums at the school posted about a local (a.k.a. rural) group who puts on a show just before Christmas every year asking if anyone was interested in joining I jumped at the chance. I had originally hoped I'd be able to sneak away child free, but the baby has come along to all but the first rehearsal and has kind of been a bit of a mascot. He is a super chilled wee dude so it has worked really well and I requested as small a part as possible to not feel like I was dragging others down but still could feel part of an ensemble. I've loved going along to rehearsals so much, it's been great meeting others outside of school & baby groups (no offence mums, I love my mum tribe because it keeps me sane but it's been nice to not just talk kids) and I've loved doing something for me again.
On Friday evening I brought the whole family along to our dress rehearsal (which went really well) as the baby had both an eye and ear infection and I felt daddy would be better at soothing him while I was busy than the amazing extra grannies I've relied on during rehearsals. There had already been issued an amber weather warning over our area in Scotland for the Saturday but I think we all just hoped it would be wrong!
Despite the weather warning I went on with things as if I'd be able to go. It was windy out but none of the snow and icy rain was making an appearance. I baked the chocolate cakes I was bringing along as my contribution for the audience's dessert (there were getting a meal, venison stew + pudding, as part of watching the murder mystery). My husband was staying home with the kids while I went out and my main worry was not being sure if or how I'd get home if the weather turned bad, I still breastfeed the 9 month old regularly but never have expressed milk as I'm always with him. All I knew was that I had to get back, so I packed base layers and warm clothes, snow boots, hats, gloves, walking sticks & lights (& and snack!), in case the car got stuck, there was still no snow but we had been warned it would come in fast.
We had dinner super early so I had time to wash and feed the baby; light snow started drifting in just as my husband came back with the dog, and when we started to eat it was sticking a fair bit but the road looked fine. I bathed the baby and did my make up, I expected to be a little late to the venue so doing my make up at home would save on time (me having any make up on is a bit of treat as I just can't be bothered most of the time). When I got back downstairs I packed the cakes up into bags and went out to check on the road condition, I'd intended on packing the car as well... Those plans changed as I saw that I wouldn't get out, there was still an hour before I intended on driving so plenty of time for the road to get worse and it was already pitch black outside. Our internet had been down since early morning so I couldn't contact the director, I only had her email. By pure luck I realised I had saved a picture of the play poster, her number was printed on it so I could call her. Apparently one of the other actors had already been in touch to say she couldn't make it over through the snow. The director decided she'd call around and cancel it.
I'm gutted even though I know it was the right and safe decision it still sucks. Everyone worked really hard on it and there are some fantastic performances in it! I feel everyone had lots to be proud of and it's such a shame that they didn't have the chance to perform it properly. Not only that, but a group people have spent hours slaving away in the kitchen preparing the food for over 100 people! And I was so excited to get to perform again... But on the bright side we got to eat all the chocolate cake I had baked (both were gone within 36 hours because we are greedy AF) and we had time for a cosy movie with the kids before they went to bed and the electricity was cut (you can read more about that HERE).
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