Aches and Plays

*yawn* *stretch* *cree-e-e-eak*

erg.

This past weekend Sarah and I made our annual trip to Camp Tockwogh, which is situated on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It’s run by the YMCA and more-or-less signals the end of another year of Indian Guides (I know the link says “Adventure Guides”, but I disagree with the Y’s position that they needed to be “politically correct”. We did nothing but honor the Native American way of life). We left Thursday night and arrived around 11pm. We had caravaned with 3 other dads and their kids, and spent all day Friday with pretty much the whole camp to ourselves. We did the normal stuff over the course of the weekend; archery, rock wall climbing, fishing, etc. I managed to get into separate games of touch football, basketball, and a three hour beach volleyball match. I learned a couple of vital things and was pondering about them on the drive home Sunday:

1. If I’m going to be abusing my body in such a manner, I need to get in shape and do it more often. My legs were killing me Sunday. Didn’t help that I had play practice and had to dance and sing for four hours Sunday afternoon (more on that in a bit)
2. If I’m not going to get myself in shape, I need to look into getting some replacement limbs for when I do play like an 8 year old.
3. It’s possible to brush your teeth without using your arms. Yes, I was that sore.

Joking aside, I had a great time, and the aches and pains that come with playing hard for a few days (not to mention sleeping in a bunk on a mat that wasn’t much more comfortable than a tissue would be) are worth it. Sarah and I got to spend some time together and while she was asleep, I got to hang out with other dads.

We had to get back early on Sunday because we had to be at play practice by 1. I think I mentioned that Cody was in his school’s production of Peter Pan – he played a pirate. The lady who put on the show is doing State Fair this June, and had an open casting call for people of all ages. Sarah really liked Cody’s play, and decided she wanted to go audition. Cody thought it would be fun as well, so Gail and I decided it might be a fun family-type thing to do.

To familiarize ourselves with the show, we rented the 1945 version of State Fair and watched it. Afterwards, Cody decided being a pirate was much cooler than dosey-do-ing around a stage and opted for Tech Crew. So that left Sarah, Gail and myself to audition. I figured I would just take a background part, mingle around, be part of the fair crowd. Sarah and Gail would be doing the same.

At least, that’s what I figured.

Because of lack of people, I now have three different parts; I’m to be Uncle Sam, who walks out on stilts(!!) at the beginning of the Fair to welcome everyone; I’m playing the part of the hoopla barker (which a very young Harry Morgan plays the part of in the movie); I’m also playing a part of the quartet. Yes, a quartet. Meaning, I’m singing.

Me! Singing! In front of people! Without the comfort of my shower!!

It was a total fluke how I ended up in quartet. During one of the main numbers, our director point to a group of four guys (which I was a part of by happenstance) and said “you guys just stand in for the quartet for now”. So we did. And during the song, I just sang. Well, the lady that’s helping our director was standing right in front, heard me, told the director I could sing (ack!) and now I’m “second tenor”, singing in two different songs. We’re going to be doing quartet bits in the main number, and then by ourselves during a separate bit.

Terrifying.

But, truth to tell, I am having an absolute ball with this. I might be freaked out about the singing in the quartet part, but when I’m with the rest of the cast, dancing around, I’m singing my fool head off. As no one has said I need to quiet down, I’m going to assume that at least I’m singing on key. This is just so different from things I’ve been doing recently in terms of hobbies and entertainment. I was in the marching band throughout high-school and college (band fag!), and I enjoyed the performances that we did, so I guess I’m just rediscovering that feeling of performing for other people. But acting? And singing? And – God help us – dancing?

It’s quite amusing when I think about it. And naturally, you’re all invited to come watch me make a complete and utter fool of myself. I’m going to be having a ball doing it.