Stage Fright?

The kids and I went to Forever Plaid, the (50s music) musical, tonight at a local theater. The kids enjoyed the whole performance, but they were disappointed at one point. The actors interacted with the audience frequently, making us hold props, or answer questions. At one point, when one of the quartet was playing Heart & Soul on the piano, he asked who in the audience knew how to play the top or bottom part, which another character used as a segue into one of the only “adult-themed” jokes of the night.

Next thing we know, they’re looking for someone with a hand up because they want the person to COME ON STAGE and play it in front of everyone!! I’ve known how to play that song for at least twenty years, but my brain froze and this was the only thought circling in the frigid void–What if I say I can play it, but then I get up there and don’t remember a note????

Even though an actor was directly in front of me at that point, searching for the hand that had only a short time been waving in the air, I steadfastly refused to make eye contact and they eventually turned to another part of the auditorium.

Whew! Yet the kids have said a few times how much they would have loved to have seen me play the piano with the cast, which turned into an entire song and dance number. You know, I agree with them. Maybe I should have taken the risk …

Because as soon as I got home I picked the part out on the piano right away!

Want to read another review of The Familiar Stranger? Jude Urbanski, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Denver at ACFW this year, explains how her personal experience of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) colored her reading of TFS.

Note: if you do not have a blogstream account, you may leave a comment about her blog here and it will still gain you another entry in the 10-book giveaway.