from an email to Elaine Bent, Texas
E: Not only have you and Jim been busy, but you have some exciting things planned, too. I am so happy for you that you're are doing a play and are having such a success with it. Thank you, God! Someone like you would wither and dry up if you did not have an outlet for your God given gifts. You are also fortunate to have a husband who understands that. I know of a couple of friends who have not had that relationship. It has been very painful.
K: Through my involvement in RAINBOW FISH little big show, I've honestly the feeling like a BIG part of my heart is beginning to pump the passion back into my life. Little by little over the past few weeks, I've had this palatable sensation, in a part of me, a part that I've denied should matter, that I'm becoming alive again. It's like a curse is being lifted. I have enjoyed the occassional opportunities to teach and coach, and write, but nothing really compares to the camraderie of the rehearsal process, and thrill of bringing a character to life on stage.
It's taken awhile to feel embraced by the cast, and get over my "am I too old for this?" insecurities. The rest of the group are all 20-something Singaporeans, and after 9 years, I am having to work extra hard on the side to get this old body in shape for the dancing and singing! Even if performing will be a rare experience in this stage of my life, I am SO relishing the joy of it.
Since my children were babies, they had all but silenced my singing. This in turn did something to the song in my heart too. For the first 30 years of my life I was always singing at home, in the car, in ensembles, in the worship team, for shows, and then I had babies. This is weird, but they would put their little hands up to my mouth when I started singing to make me stop, or they'd even complain! Now, as I work on this show, they are for now really into it and seeing me perform. They are learning the songs, asking to sing with me, wanting to learn the dances, being on their best behaviour when I allowed them to attend a rehearsal (they tried on the puppet fish heads afterward and OH do I wish I had a camera!).
I feel I have earned the respect of the cast and director, most of whom I'd only met before, but knew none of them very well except the producer. We are doing a "road show" next weekend at the large Department store who is our sponsor. The director has asked me to sing for Rainbow Fish since that actress can't make it, so he must have confidence in me. He also asked me to write a one page synopsis by next week of a children's play I've written (I'd asked him to look at a draft last December), he is submitting his proposals to the National Arts Council for his school touring shows, and would like my play to be one of them!
