Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Things looking Rosier

The coffee morning was a success. After coffee and biscuits we gave Margaret her Golden Wedding cards and the voucher for a session at the beauty salon. Then Margaret produced a bottle of rose and chocolate orange segments and in spite of eschewing biscuits earlier we now all tucked in with gusto.


Somehow we started reminiscing about our children - when young treading - the boards. My little boys were aged 5 and 3 when I was assisting my friend to produce and direct a play at Tonbridge School. It had a very large cast and was a sort of upstairs downstairs with a kitchen staff below and an aristocratic family above, who had two tiny children. The producer knew my children by sight and said they, with their golden hair and blue eyes would be perfect. Knowing my boys - as I was with them 24/7 - I said it was them or me. No way could I work on the play and be responsible for the boys at the same time.


After much thought she said I should continue working on the play – taking rehearsals etc and she would depute Lee – a lovely lady who didn’t have children of her own to look after the boys. After the first rehearsal everybody oooohed and aaahed about these angelic little boys. Unfortunately they only had a few lines such as the elder one saying:

‘Dwedfully boring!’ and the younger echoing:’ Dwedfully boring!’ and there was lots of hanging around backstage when they got up to mischief.

The next rehearsal the producer asked me if I could look after them as they were driving Lee potty. I repeated my stipulation and had a few sharp words with the boys.


It was a difficult time for everybody but as soon as the play was open to the public the boys became two little hams and rose to the occasion. They developed perfect timing and would pause to allow the audience to laugh and coo over them. Then the young varmints would race off stage and come to tell me:

‘.Mum we got APPLAUSE!’

In the end I was very proud of them. Did your children tread the boards and did they behave impeccably?


Below is the Valiant Soldier at Roadwater where we had roast beef on Sunday. The berried trees are in the pretty car park.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

My daughter has had the female lead in everything she's been in. Alas, she's considering theater as a college major though I'll will insist she get a business degree and her teaching certificate, as well. As for the younger two, the elder is quite the ham, and I expect him to follow suit.

Great pics, as always, BTW

Pat said...

Randall: I think it is a great discipline and some of my happiest times - before MTL - were in a theatre group. You are very wise to push 'somethig to fall back on' as fathers do all over the world.

DILLIGAF said...

Jax was selected - at junior school - for the 'starring role' in their plays on such a regular basis it was getting embarressing.

Look. Your kids are the business. End of. Someone elses kid constantly gets selected it bugs you.

In the end I had to gently suggest Jax didn't get the starring role to the Deputy Head.

She co-operated and Jax had a very much secondary role which included some physical gymnastics style movements.

She got a standing ovation.

I sneaked away and went to the pub.

Oddly...in her final year book from senior school Jax won the 'award' for 'Most Likely To Be Famous'....

....oh dear...

OldLady Of The Hills said...

What a wonderful story, Pat....I love that the boys became little Hams....I'm surprised the "acting" bug didn't bite in a big way from that...as you know, sometimes thats all the push anyone needs---a few laughs and some applause...lol!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Ooops! Forgot to say how great that Margaret liked her gift...! AND, there is a new post up I think you will enjoy, my deat.

Pat said...

FourD: Jax has already had a brilliant career:)

Naomi: I don't think their father would have been too pleased but the bug didn't bite them.
It's very late but I'll be over in the morning;)

Barlinnie said...

Charming story as ever by my favourite Golden girl. But tell me hen.. what happens on the days you replace the tea and hob-nobs for the vodka and the gin?

Do the tales turn to anything as spicy as the ginger upon the elegant slices of cake on offer?

Pat said...

Jimmy: I think in 20 odd years we have never drunk anything stronger than wine together. Might make an interesting experiment. We did have a day last year when we included a very old lady and I asked her if she had any regrets.
'Yes!' she said vehemently, 'That I didn't sleep with more men.' which was a conversation stopper.

Charlie said...

A great story, Pat, as well as your reply to Jimmy. Life doesn't end when we reach our 60s or retire—it's just beginning.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Tee hee, have they read this as yet, the little angels, the young varmints?

I'm laughing at how their mother, their own dear flesh and blood said, either them or her.

Pat said...

Charlie: seems to me - very ten years you start again.

GG: one of them may do but the other doesn't read it - so he tells me. I expect I may be scolded but believe me GG I knew what I was doing.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

If they scold you, cover your ears and sing, La la laaaaaaaa....

Pat said...

GG: an abject apology usually shuts them up:) I wouldn't write anything that I thought would really upset them. They are too ? - what's the word - 'precious' sounds poncy. Maybe 'important'.

Barlinnie said...

Pat, I like you just that little bit more every day.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I know what you mean about writing about family on the blog...about anyone, others...I usually clear this with them. I say, I'm so going to put that on my blog.

I disguise names, features.

Awww, I can't imagine your boys scolding you :-)

Pat said...

Jimmy: well you won't hear any complaints from me:)

GG: in the story I also disguise them and some of them have no idea I have a blog.
One of the refreshing things about getting older is when you stop being a parent and become a friend and then you find they are becoming the parent - so I have to watch my P's ands Q's.