Look out Hollywood!

I'll never forget the first time I had an actual speaking-role in a school play. It was for a Christmas concert, I think I was in third grade, and I was chosen to be one of the three wise men. I had only one line, "Look at yonder star!" I practiced and practiced my one line, making sure I knew when my cue was. I was convinced I would be the best wise man ever!

The night of the concert, I was so excited, but also very nervous. I got all costumed up, took my place on stage with the other wise men. As I was standing there, waiting for my cue, I got distracted, looking at the scenery, looking out at the audience trying to spot my parents and brothers. Next thing I know, I feel a sharp elbow-jab in my ribs. It was my turn! In a total panic, I flung up my arm and said, really fast and really loud, "LOOKATYONDERSTAR!!" Then I stood there for the rest of the play in total shame and embarrassment for having flubbed my first real "acting" role. I was humiliated!

So now, many years later, it is now Gunnar's turn to have his first real speaking-role in a Christmas concert. Last year, he was Joseph so he DID play a prominent role, but he didn't have any lines (for which he was immensely grateful, although he said it was "embarrassing" that he had to hold Mary's hand). This year, they are doing a really cool Christmas play, with a concept of a newspaper getting the scoop on the birth of baby Jesus.

Gunnar has a very prominent role, with only one other character having more lines than him. He is playing Rock Gibraltar, an "egocentric, grandiose sports reporter" (to quote the script). I went through the script, looking at all his lines, and man are there a lot! I actually had a mini panic-attack just thinking of being in his shoes! I asked if he was nervous, "A bit", which I'm sure will be a huge understatement as the concert gets closer. In fact, I have an idea I'll be needing to bring a puke bucket for him that night.

So I thought that I would give him a little pep talk, help him to understand what his character is all about. First I had to explain what "egocentric" and "grandiose" meant, haha. I remember what it was like at that age, when everyone volunteers for a role -- you want to be important so if you get a main role, everyone is envious and admires you. But then you realize you actually have to ACT, not just in front of all the parents, but all your school buddies. And at that age, it can be kind of embarrassing to actually ACT out a role, to be theatrical, when you're thinking that all the kids are mocking you, "Look at Brad Pitt over there." Its so much easier to just spit out your lines in a monotone, like most of the other kids.

But then there's always that one kid that does take his role seriously and makes an effort, and that kid always KILLS on stage. He has the audience laughing, crying, thinking "That kid is awesome!" There was a kid like that when I was in grade six. He was cute, and funny, and all us girls really liked him. But when we saw him act out his role during practices for the Christmas play (for which he had the starring role, of course), that's when we all got huge monstrous crushes on him. He was the Brad Pitt of grade six! He had girls following him around wherever he went, fighting over who got to sit by him, you know, what 10 year old girls do when they like a boy.

So I explained that to Gunnar, that although it may be hard to break out of his shell and really act the role but worrying that his friends will think he's dorky, its actually just the opposite. If the girls are hot-to-trot for him now (which they are), imagine what they'll be like when he's swaggering around on stage, really getting into the part of Rock Gibraltar. My son could be his generation's Brad Pitt!

So with all that having been said, we went through his lines, getting an idea of how each line should be read, what arm movements he could make (remember, he is supposed to be "grandiose" and "egocentric", haha). I think that really helped with his nervousness. That, and the fact that the girls would be crazy over him, well, MORE crazy, if he just went for it.

All I know is, I'm going to be the proudest mom ever on the concert-night!! (Well, I pretty much am already, but MORE proud, haha.)