May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Thursday, to celebrate my friend's birthday, a few of my friends and I went to see the midnight showing of The Hunger Games.  We were just about the only adults in the theater.  I forgot my glasses (I actually never wear them but they usually come in handy while watching a movie) so I had to have my friend read to me whenever Katiniss got a note from a sponsor.  I think my friend especially loved whispering "You call that a kiss?" to me.  Despite our old age we managed to stay awake!  I really liked the movie, it was worth only getting two hours of sleep.

Friday night Chris came home with tickets to a 7pm showing so I got to watch it again. I think I liked it even more the second time!!!  There were little details here and there that were not the same as the book but I would say my only complaint: I wish there had been just a little bit more clarity about how Peeta's (I love that his dad is a baker and he is named after bread) feelings for Katiniss were real and I really like the conversation they have at the end of the book where Katniss becomes aware that his feelings are real...... I would have liked to watch that scene.  Wasn't sure going into the movie how I felt about the casting but in the end I felt that every actor totally captured the essence of their character.  (Love Lenny Kravitz!!!) 

While I wish there had been just a little bit more development with the Peeta-Katniss-Gale love triangle I have to give props to the director for not turning the cave into a make out session.  I was nervous that there would be too much kissing and then I wouldn't want my girls to see the flick at all.  But thankfully the cave scene when Peeta is healing from his leg wound was not portrayed that way.

Saturday Aubrey went to a Hunger Games party and movie showing.  They all had homemade matching tye-dye shirts that said Hunger Games on the fron and had quotes from the book written on the back.  I gave Aubrey and her friend Katniss hair dos to wear to the theater (which was apparently a big hit).

Yesterday my girls all wore Hunger Games inspired hairdos.  Aubrey and Christine had the diagonal dutch braid that Katniss wears throughout the movie.  Taylor had the Katniss Reaping Day double-dutch-braid twisted together in the back.  Talia had the Foxface double messy buns.  They looked so cute....and I forgot to take a picture.

Taylor turns 11 on Wednesday and all she wants for her birthday is to see The Hunger Games so Wednesday night she and I are headed to the theater (again).  We'll see if I still like it after three showings!!!

Ode to the Theater

How has it taken me so long to discover musical theater???  I have always loved watching it but until this year I had never really participated and now I wonder how my life was ever complete without it.

As a family we participated in The Wizard of Oz at the elementary school.  My friend and I directed the play.  I was the music and choreography director plus wrote a scene to add to the play in order to accommodate all the students that showed up to audition (85 performers, 8 backstage crew, 2 middle school helpers, 4 high school helpers).  Christine was a munchkin.  Talia was a dancing poppy.  Aubrey helped with backstage management of the munchkins.  And Taylor was Dorothy.  Oh and Chris played the part of supportive-parent-audience-member (a vital role for all).  We began rehearsals in January and had a four performance run of the show in the begining of March. 

Then there was the middle school play two weeks later (with a run of 5 shows).  Somehow I managed to get sucked into making some simple props, running to a few craft stores, and of course I ended up doing hair and some makeup.  Aubrey played the part of one of the three little pigs and a fairy.  She was a bit upset about being a pig until I explained that she was probably picked because she is sooooo skinny.  It would be cruel to cast someone with even a slight weight problem as a pig in a middle school play.  So instead of a fat pig she played a 5'4" 95 pound pig with pink face paint that caused her skin to break out in eczema.

The girls were fantastic!!!  They all stepped outside of their comfort zone and they all shined.  Live theater is always entertaining because you never know what to expect.  But live theater with children takes this all to a new level.  The other director and I worked like crazy and laughed our heads off through every performance.  I can't wait to do it again next year.  Chris, however, is grateful that I don't have any really major projects lined up real soon.........at least none that he is aware of :)