"Esther, the Musical"

And that's a wrap, folks! "Esther, the Musical" has been seen in its two live performances at our parish and now our summer production is concluded. John (10) played one of the seven Stooges (the Ignored Junior Stooge) as well as one of the two Couriers, and Mary (8) played one of Queen Vashti's Attendants (the one with the violin) as well as Ensemble (a Jewish towns person).

I got to attend a Wednesday dress-and-tech rehearsal, just in case . . .

Wednesday's dress rehearsal

Our whole family tried to attend on Saturday evening, but Thomas (2) didn't even last through the first half. I was at peace walking him around outside because I'd had the gift of seeing the performance already. But, boy, am I weak at this point! Just that evening exertion tuckered me out for the whole next day.

On Sunday, Chris attended the musical again with Margaret, while I caught up with the little boys just in time for curtain call and the fun cast party. (Mary changed out of her costume before I could find her for our family photo.)

Don't worry: the sour faces of Margaret (6) and Joseph (4) were results of very petty childhood concerns and vanished moments later.

The Sunday crowd was standing room only, kids ending up lining the bleachers in back too. Hundreds of people! It was so exciting!

We couldn't have committed to doing this musical during a "pregnancy summer" if Chris hadn't agreed ahead of time to do almost all the work of driving to and from to rehearsals: thank you, honey!

Congratulations to John and Mary, along with all the cast, crew, and directors, for a job well done!


[Photos and video by the audience were not allowed for licensing reasons, so the directors took gorgeous photos with a good camera themselves: I will post those here for posterity later this week when they become available.]

All the photos are available by clicking on this link. I've posted below photos that have my two children in them. The video of the musical is yet to come.

Backstage Fun

Scenes from the Musical

Curtain Call

Theater: "The Hare and the Tortoise"

On Wednesday, we attended "The Hare and the Tortoise" at the children's theater: Joseph's first play!

Usually there are enough homeschooling mothers going in that I can send in my children with someone else while I stay outside with any of my tots (and others' tots) who are under three years old, but this time I brought my babysitter to help me. The baby was well-fed and in a good mood, so I ended up leaving him with the babysitter to play in the children's library while I had the privilege of going in to the play.

John, Mary, and Margaret before the play began

I love theater! I don't care if it is children's theater meant for those three to five years old, like this one was: I love live theater!

Joseph, nervous before his first play

Joseph was nervous before the play began. We had talked about Good Theater Behavior and he wanted to get it right. I snuggled with him and tried to get him to lighten up, but he was a somber fellow, as in the photo above. He kept checking with me if this was the right time to clap or not. My heart melted!

Joseph (7 months)

In the meanwhile, Thomas had a dandy time with the babysitter playing in the toddler area of the library. Mama and baby were apart for one hour and, boy, did I miss him!

Fantastic pop-up book about scavengers

After the play, we spent time in the library, Mama scored some good 25-cent purchases at the book sale, and we went to lunch on our way home. Good times had by all!

"The Cat in the Hat"

Our last children's theater of the season was Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat." It was delightfully zany, just the way children enjoy.

Joseph stayed in the play area of the library being watched by our dear friend Mrs. D---- and her young tots.

When we were driving away, I asked the children what were their favorite parts of the play. Each child piped up, including Joseph (27 months) who answered, "Playing with Millie!"

"Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel"

The spring season of children's theater has begun, and yesterday we greatly enjoyed seeing "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Our homeschooling group buys tickets as a school group, so we get to see professional, live theater for only six dollars per ticket.

I supervised five children in the theater.

This may have been Margaret's first time being old enough to go into the theater. I was on full-time duty reminding her (at almost four) not to shout out and narrate enthusiastically. Many times I wished photographs were allowed during the performance so I could have captured the absolute magic and wonder of her facial expressions at her first big kid play.

The set

Five tots having a grand old time in the play area

While I supervised five big kids inside the theater, a friend of mine supervised five babies in the children's play area of the attached library. She was far braver than I would be entertaining one four-year-old, two two-year-olds, and two under-one-but-mobile babies.

Being a big boy

When the children were all still peaceful at the table

After the play, my friend and I walked around the block to eat lunch downtown. I am always grateful that the restaurant gives us and our nine kids a private room in back!