Opaque Lucidity

Roar Of The Grease Paint, Smell Of The Crowd

Kelli's parents took us to see a local production of 'The Wizard of Oz' this afternoon. It was well-done, the music was great and it was genuinely funny. I haven't seen the film or a stage production of 'Wizard' since 1989, when I played the Cowardly Lion. Ahh, the memories.

I remember most the heat. The lion outfit was heavy, furry and included gloves. Under the lights, it was stifling. I donated the suit to my high school some years later, where it has been displayed several times during anniversary gatherings. I hope no one ever has to wear it again---or, at least, I hope they get it cleaned first!

I never saw 'The Wizard of Oz' as a child. I wasn't going to try out for the play (my last) because, at that time, I was set to enter boot camp on June 2, barely 5 days after I was due to graduate from high school. I did not want to spend my last few months of freedom practicing for something that would have zero application in my adult life. But our acting teacher, Rebecca Reisert, must've talked to some of my peers, for that weekend I went over to my friend Hope's house and spent the evening watching the movie for the first time. When it was over, I wanted to try out for the play. I found out later that the role of the Lion had already been assigned to me and that the tryouts were something of a formality. If I hadn't tried out, things might've gotten messy.

I remembered today that I was something of an asshat during that time in my life. My ex-girlfriend got a role in the chorus after years of dance training and some modeling experience. Since we were Seniors, she would never have another chance for a lead role. And I REJOICED in that. I mean, I was actually happy. Of course, she now has a doctorate and probably makes ten times my salary, so everything worked out. Or something.

Theater is the only thing I miss about high school. I wasn't exactly the thespian type, and so I was sort of an outsider among the actors, but they were almost universally good people and I enjoyed my time there. Kelli worked on almost every production I was in, although if anyone had told us we would be married one day we would've laughed ourselves silly. Her sister also helped---I remember yelling at her backstage because she wouldn't give us knights our swords before we had to go on during one of our fight scenes in 'Camelot'. She probably doesn't remember, although I still feel bad about it.

During the fall of my Senior year, I played Earnest Worthing in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. The female lead was shared by two women, one of whom was my girlfriend. We broke up early in the production, so there I was, stuck kissing a girl every other show with whom I could barely stand to be in the same room. Kelli and her still communicate and she spends time with us when she is in town; we've never really covered those days in much detail because, well, it's kind of awkward to talk about your high school romances in front of your wife. At least for me.

Kelli told me today that I should get back into theater, and if it wasn't for the podcasting I would. But my singing voice is rusty and the only roles I'm physically suited for these days is Santa Claus and a biker bar bouncer. But I've learned that time can work wonders, so I won't say never.