Excited and scared
That’s how Little Red Riding Hood describes her feelings about meeting the wolf in the midst of the forest in Into the Woods – excited and scared. I know how she feels. Over the next two weeks, I’m performing in two different shows. My librarianing will be drastically reduced, as I’ll be working on only five out of the ten potential working days over this period, but this is probably sensible. I imagine I’ll need a bit of time to lie down in a darkened room.
I’m excited because shows are exciting. I’m scared because shows are scary.
I’m excited because shows are the ultimate adrenaline rush. I’m scared because shows are exhausting, and I don’t really know whether I have enough energy reserves.
I’m excited because both shows will stretch my skills in different ways. I’m scared because they might be stretching them further than they can go.
I’m excited because Charles Miller, composer of When Midnight Strikes, is coming to see the show. I’m scared for exactly the same reason!
I’m excited because the dance routines in The Pajama Game are really good fun to do. I’m scared because quite a few of my friends are real dancers, yet some of them haven’t seen me ‘dance’ – I’m not sure what they’ll make of it if they come.
I’m excited because When Midnight Strikes gives me the opportunity to portray a complex character with three dimensions with a true dramatic arc. I’m scared because I don’t want to overplay the emotions and ruin the drama.
I’m excited because the shows both seem to be coming together well. I’m scared because I always am at this stage in proceedings.
Above all, though, I’m excited. Excited because performing is my passion. Excited to sing songs old and new. Excited to jive, tango and do some comedy character-based dance. Excited to have the chance to portray two such different people. Excited to be working alongside some good friends and some amazingly talented people who truly blow me away (there is, I hasten to add, definite overlap between these two categories). Excited to use the gifts I’ve been given to entertain. Excited to be heading back on to stage.
Well…excited and scared!