Bittersweet

Some folks know that my son was up in NYC this past weekend, being called back for a shot at the role of Michael Banks in either the tour or the Broadway production of “Mary Poppins.” We found out Sunday night that he was out of the running for now. Seven boys were seen on Sunday. A couple were brought back on Monday and he was not one of them.

I don’t have to tell anyone who reads this that the past several weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions. The excitement about the possibility of him actually being cast was set in lock-step with anxiety and bewilderment about how exactly we would make that work. Needless to say, the outcome then has its own set of conflicting emotions, with disappointment and relief battling it out (though, honestly, disappointment usually wins out).

Through it all, the boy has remained engaged but also relatively non-chalant about it. I guess in the final analysis, he got two pretty exciting trips to New York out of the deal, so he isn’t complaining.

The whole experience makes me marvel at the unique resilience an actor must have to handle this process successfully. I can’t think of many professions (sales, perhaps?) where you put yourself out there so openly and are judged so immediately…and in a way so easily construed as negative (the Olympics have Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.; in theater, there is First Place…and everyone else…)

In terms of more general news and reviews, Ms. Tupponce’s take on “I Ought to be in Pictures” is up on the WCVE site and Style has a story on the former director of the Virginia Museum Theatre who was back in town recently.

Last but certainly not least, Ms. Burruss’s review of “Henry V” just showed up on Style’s site. Enjoy!