Ahhhh, Auditions

So what is really going on at our house, besides Mom thinking about Advent, is auditions. Friday night. We have three kids auditioning this time, as Bantam7 will become Bantam8 just three days before the final performance of this show, which means--he's eligible, finally!, after sitting out six shows. (Not really sitting--he's ushered at every one of 'em.)

So how many times in the past 3 weeks have I heard "I Feel Pretty," "Luck Be a Lady," and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"? I'm not even counting. And not just heard, but watched, complimented, criticized, helped choreograph, praised and applauded my lil' hands off. And finally now, the rehearsed moves are starting to look natural, the little pauses to remember what's next are gone...and I'm so proud of them I can't contain myself!

Bantam7 sure doesn't look like a first-timer as he kicks his cane to his shoulder and swings it around to "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." It's a perfect song for his big, toothy grin, complete with a gap and a half-grown-in tooth. Bantam11 has worked up some great hat moves: he twirls it around before donning it; he does a 360 on his toes and completes the spin with a deft settling of the hat on his head; and he drops to one knee, clutching bowler to breast as he sings, "And so the best that I can do is pray." Blondechick14's only "prop" is a full-skirted white dress, but it twirls becomingly as she delights in her "prettiness," and what she does with her voice and her face is marvelous!

Oh, the show they're auditioning for? Cinderella--not the Disney but the Rogers and Hammerstein version (with a few extra songs such as were thrown in to this production). Blondechick14, of course, would love the title role. (She and about 60 other girls, so we're not holding our breaths.) Bantam11 has a good chance at a minor speaking role, we think, considering the dearth of boys trying out, and he's surely guaranteed a partner in the ballroom scenes. Bantam7 is hoping for one of the four white mice who are turned into horses. We're not really sure what other parts there will be for the youngest kids, except maybe a townsperson or villager. He's probably too short to waltz at the ball, if that makes sense, but one never knows!

Papa Rooster and I are foregoing a Christmas party in order to attend the entire night of auditions. It's just a great variety show, for one thing, and for another, it's been a delight to watch this group of kids progress. Shy kids have become confident, those who could barely squeak out a note a year ago now sing out ringingly, and kids who once were rooted to the carpet now surprise us with their grace and agility. And there are always the new kids to throw a few wild cards into our neat speculations on who will get what part!

So. Friday.

We're excited.