On the stage and behind the scenes

REBECCA –
You’ve heard that old saying: You can’t take it with you. It usually refers to spending all your money before you die because, well, “you can’t take it with you.”

BIRDIE –
This chapter, however, is about the things you CAN take with you – but SHOULDN’T.

REBECCA –
There’s a line in NarroWay’s “Not Just Another Love Story” delivered by Uncle Zeb which says: “I knew I’d be an old man one day, Willie. Of all the things I’ve got to take to my grave with me, I didn’t want to take a bitter heart.”

BIRDIE –
We prepare for work, vacations, retirement but, honestly, we can’t be certain of any of these. But one thing is indisputably certain: Death.

REBECCA –
One of the obstacles that I have to overcome when coaching a cast member on how to realistically play a specific part is to get them to deliver their lines realistically and not as if they already know what’s coming next.
That’s not good in acting but it is good in life!

BIRDIE –
In fact, we SHOULD live every day with the mindset that, one day, our life script will read: The End. Hopefully that won’t be soon, but there are some things, like Uncle Zeb, that we don’t want to take to the grave.

REBECCA –
Whose voice are you listening to?
Your answer dictates the direction of your life.

BIRDIE –
Funny as it sounds, we ALL hear voices in our heads, and which voice we choose to listen to makes ALL the difference.

REBECCA –
I recently saw this quote:
“AN HONEST ENEMY IS BETTER THAN A LYING FRIEND.” (Monria Titans, Facebook, first posted Jan. 10, 2014)

BIRDIE –
There is no such thing as a lying “friend.” That’s an oxymoron.

REBECCA –
But lying does have a source.
Just as John Adams is the Father of the Constitution, as George Washington is the Father of this great United States - lying, too, has a father.
Satan is the Father of Lies.

BIRDIE –
John 8:44 - Here’s a paraphrase: “Satan is a liar. In fact, one could say that lying is his native language, his MO - modus operandi. He is the father of lies.”

REBECCA –
You see, Satan IS your lying “friend.”

REBECCA –
After every NarroWay show, the cast children come up to the tech area, where we are, and pick out one small piece of candy as a reward.

BIRDIE –
If we perform two shows, they get two candies.

REBECCA –
Over the years this piece of candy has come to represent way more than a sweet treat. It has become an edible trophy for a job-well-done.

BIRDIE –
Rebecca has become a master at making candy a motivator.

REBECCA –
Example: “If you help pick up the trash, you get to be first in line for candy.” Or, “If you do a super good job watching Miss Birdie tonight, you get two candies.”

BIRDIE –
Rebecca has transformed many a child’s acting abilities right before my eyes using her magical tub of candy. I’ve seen her go by a bawling youngster and simply say: “Cry-babies don’t get candy,” and, miraculously, their hurt goes away.

REBECCA –
But this is the story of Ryan and his candy.