Scool plays: I hate 'em with a capital F

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Younger grandson, James (5) is a squirrel tomorrow, which put this into my mind.

I was 4 when I had to go in for one of these. My mother got me up as a bear and I had to sing, solo, "The teddy bears' picnic". I hated every second of it. I was , probably fortunately, bearly audible

I've never let myself be suckered into doing anything like that again. But I don't have a natural antipathy to "performing". I enjoyed giving talks to visiting delegations from far-flung places like Cuba and China (though it was hard with a translator), as well as economics students and colleagues. It's just the school stuff I hate.

I went to one that our daughter was in, when she was about 7. I hated that, just as much. I could feel what I would have been feeling had it been me in her position. Natasha wasn't too keen. And my wife hated the business of workng up costumes with a passion which equals mine for the whole business.

Lawrence, grandson #1 (11), is really keen on them. He's most assiduous at learning his lines and recites them to himself in his room. Natasha tells me he gets right into character! And she doesn't seem to mind making costumes for him. Perhaps he's going to be an actor; he certainly takes this more seriously than his proper homework. His school doesn't do a play/show at Christmas.

What are your experiences/thoughts?

MG

[chris olivarez]

As long as you don't expect professionalism you should be ok.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Younger grandson, James (5) is a squirrel tomorrow...

MG

it's all about the after party!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Younger grandson, James (5) is a squirrel tomorrow...

MG

it's all about the after party!

Oh no, he doesn't drink Guinness; just cheap lager. (We've tried giving him expensive lager, but to no avail.)

And I've just noticed my spelling in the thread heading - that's the cheap Strine wine with dinner.

OBO110X

MG

[Jazzmoose]

You're on a roll, MG; with scool and hone fraud...

[king ubu]

fegh lager, with capital F! Why don't people (not even 5 year olds that you'd assume to be innocent!) prefer a good beer over that crappy lager you get everywhere? hell, world gone wrong!

[rockefeller center]

Jim Alfredsonski loves squirrels.

[Peter Johnson]

Hey, isn't that JLarsen's squirrel at the corner pub?

Younger grandson, James (5) is a squirrel tomorrow...

MG

it's all about the after party!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

You're on a roll, MG; with scool and hone fraud...

I thought they'd never dry!

MG

[rockefeller center]

You're on a roll, MG; with scool and hone fraud...

FrauNd, not fraud. MG is lost.

[rockefeller center]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_reference

[Man with the Golden Arm]

fegh lager, with capital F! Why don't people (not even 5 year olds that you'd assume to be innocent!) prefer a good beer over that crappy lager you get everywhere? hell, world gone wrong!

and the little snappers prefer it with fruit! nuts i tell ya.

[sidewinder]

Last time I took part in one of these I was about 9 or 10 - 'Good King Wenceslas'. My parents still chuckle over it. The whole thing lasted about 10 minutes but to me it felt like an eternity (I had the damn opening lines..).

They also messed up the seat arrangement on the 'stage set' so after about 5 minutes there was a frantic scramble for 4 chairs between 6 kids.

Edited December 20, 2006 by sidewinder

[sidewinder]

I was 4 when I had to go in for one of these. My mother got me up as a bear and I had to sing, solo, "The teddy bears' picnic". I hated every second of it. I was , probably fortunately, bearly audible

I feel your pain.