Nunsense is Habit-Forming . . .Rehearsal Day 1

I'm gonna blog about this. Alot probably. Mostly because I want to keep track. Also because I think it's going to be really good for me to be on the other side for awhile and I don't want to miss any of it. And, sometimes I make my kids keep journals of what's going on with a show. I'm going to see if it's as useless as they sometimes act like it is.
I was so nervous. Rehearsal was suppose to start at 6:30pm and at 5:45 I was pacing around my kitchen so giddy and nervous all at the same time! I didn't know what to expect; never worked with this director, not knowing everyone, not being on stage for 8 years and forever before that. We had some craziness at our house so I ended up being 10 minutes late because of an unforseen (is that even a word) emergency. I was mad at myself for being late so I ran in screaming, "Don't kick me out, please don't kick me out!" Mostly I begged for forgiveness. I'm not ashamed of that at all.
So, in case you don't know, the premise of the show is that these five little nuns are doing a variety show to bury their dead sisters who died of botchulism (not spelled right) when Sister Juila, Child of God, made a batch of bad soup. The show is hilarious, completely inappropriate and has moments of complete blasphemy. Alyn, one of my very best friends who plays Reverend MOther, said it's okay to blaspheme because our audience will be mostly Mormon and not get why it's funny. She said this all the while laughing herself off her chair. ANYWAY, when I got into my van today I found a plate of cookies for the Little Sisters of Hoboken made by Sister Julia, Child of God (an anonymous nun). I took the cookies to rehearsal where Brittany (Sister Amnesia) ate one. Where upon she swelled up like a balloon because she is allergic to nuts which 'Sister Julia' had put in the cookies. Damn that Sister Julia, now she trying to off Sister Amnesia. Classic moment.
My friend Alyn is probably the funniest person I know. She is wild. And makes me wild. And we were wild all night long. I have no idea how I"m going to be in a scene with her and not laugh because tonight sitting by her trying to read through the play we were both peeing our pants. Good thing I have four months to get this right.
I get to be Sister Robert Anne. I love her. I forgot how naughty she is. She is constantly playing, and getting others to play with her. She is corrupting the novices, to which Sister Hubert replies, "Well, at least she's not in jail." I cannot tell you how many times my mother said that to me growing up. Robert Anne is the better part of me. I am super happy I get to be with her this summer.
The other Nuns are fabulous. Sister Leo(Heather) and I get to do a dying nun ballet dance where I shall lift her and douse her in soup with my ladle from my tureen. I'm also wearing green high tops. And I get to choreograph the tap number.
I loved, LOVED that our director (Andrew) just let us play tonight. He didn't try to direct us, he just let us go. I have never sat down to a cold reading and just let it all go, didn't care whether I sounded stupid or not. Being able to hear my voice and being bold with choices made the night so productive for me. I didn't feel scared. OR fake. And long, long story short, I quit acting 18 years ago because I could no longer hide behind this scared person I had been my whole life. I found me 18 years ago, and that me couldn't be on stage. It felt fake. I feel like now I am back to play, just me, all me. And I can't wait.
Today was frustrating at my work. Why people feel the need to say things that you don't really need to hear is beyond me. It was the best ever to go do something else tonight, and not be defined by the walls of DAvis High. There is more to me than my job.
Thanks for listening.