Cherish the Magical Moments

Let me tell you about an experience I had performing in "The Sound of Music". I was involved as Captian Von Trapp's compromising buddy "Uncle" Max. We had a lot of good times and the children that were cast provided some outstanding performances.

A few days before opening night, during one of our dress rehearsals, we were at one of the final scenes of the show - specifically the concert where the Von Trapps make their escape out from under the noses of the Nazis.

It's a very tense scene and one in which I have to maintain a high level of emotion since I'm directly involved with helping them to escape, knowing this may be the last time I ever see these friends again.

As the scene nears its end, the family has sung "So Long, Farewell" while making their escape. At the end of the song the youngest child, Gretl, is carried offstage by the Captain. At this particular rehearsal, as Gretl was being carried off, she happened to make eye contact with me. Caught up in the moment, I gave her a very slight nod good bye. Completely in character Katelyn (Gretl) nodded - every so slightly - back to me.

It just broke my heart! I had a hard time gathering myself so I could continue on with the scene.

Now, every show, I look forward to that moment. It's subtle and I doubt many of the audience members notice it, but I don't care! I look at it as a moment just for me! :)

Cherish those moments you have onstage where the reality of the play becomes your only reality - however brief it may be! That is true theatre magic and it doesn't happen every day!

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