I’m a volunteer at the Hollywood Library. The book group I lead had two students participating their middle school play. The librarian and I made a plan to see their dramatic work. Arsenic & Old Lace, here we come!
First of all, I was surprised to learn that a lot of people in my social circle have not seen the classic movie. Then, I was even more surprised when I gave a short synopsis (Cary Grant has elderly Aunts and they take in borders and kill them) people reacted with horror. “No, it’s a comedy! A screw-ball comedy!” I protested. But they were not swayed. It sounded like a terrible movie to them. And middle school students performing it? Aren’t they too young?
This group did a great job of putting us through our comedy paces. The set, built on the stage in the cafetorium (that marvel of disinterest to the arts: cafeteria and auditorium combined in one) was also impressive. The actors and stage hands started at a disadvantage, due to the many no-school days which opened the semester.
After, we clapped for the cast as usual. Then we clapped for the crew, then the student directors, then the director. And then the student directors each read the director a letter they had written for him. And then they gave him an elderberry bush. Which cracked me up.
It was a good afternoon at the theater.