Last night when I exited stage right after mic check I found an Indian maiden using her finger to inscribe the numeral 10 in the sand in the wings. She traced the number 10 times.
Yup – it’s that time. We’re in the countdown of the final ten shows. We’re all performing our little rituals.
I told you about my little leather bag of sand. I performed my ritual of emptying the old sand on to the stage the other night. I was joined by the Chief, Bob Midgette, who thinks I’m odd but understands about the magic. We stood there for a few minutes and talked about Heather Vaughn, a Colonist from the early 1990’s who passed away from cancer recently. We couldn’t remember her specifically. You know how that is – “that Dancer,” “the AT with the dark hair and beard,” “what’s her name who was in the Choir.” After so many years they all blend together into a generic Colonist, even if at one time you knew them well. So the Chief and I celebrated Heather even though we couldn’t quite place her. Her essence was in the sand in the bag, and now she is back in the sand forever.
I lifted my heart when, after my entry last week about the sand in the bag, that so many readers confessed in the comments that they too have their little keepsakes from their Colony days. The Dream Still Lives.
Other rituals – it could be that numbers are being discreetly worked in to the designs that the Indians paint on themselves. I wouldn’t know and if I did I certainly wouldn’t tell. I’m just saying….
The biggest ritual comes closing night, of course. The shaving of the beards. Since May I have been looking forward to August 20 at 11:05 pm. I’ve got my clippers all oiled up and ready. I’ve been pretty good at keeping the face trimmed back (not really – too much trouble) but the past couple weeks I’m letting myself go full ZZ Top.
Do you readers have any memories of countdown-to-closing rituals?
I admit it-I have the first little white cap that I wore as Joyce Archard in 1991. It was almost a rag by the end of the summer, but I loved it! As Queen, I always waved to the sential who was on the parapet during Christening dance-than watched him get killed by an Indian!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of beards, Don, in April of 1978(a year long ago and far away) I received a letter from Bob Knowles telling me to stop shaving and cutting my hair. I did not realize that this was a form letter and didn't even apply to the Master Carpenter, but I did as Bob said, not a bad way to live, by the by! And to this day, 30 + years later I still haven't shaved. Mary Gaddy, to whom I have been married over 32 years, has never seen me without a beard. I must confess I have, however, cut my hair. Of course the beard is now completely white and a good deal longer than 1978, but its still there, as am I!
ReplyDelete-Le Hook
I have an old bush-choir robe... (no, I didn't steal it... they were retired and I rescued it) that is still my lounging around the house frock. Love it. And during the summer I still look at the clock on show nights sometime and think, "Call time." The place stays with you, y'know?
ReplyDeleteI have a little random piece of rag that was (I think) tied around one of my arms during Final March. It finally tore in half toward the end of my second season, so I decided that was my queue to make it a keepsake. Although I haven't used my old makeup kit in a bazillion years, it's still in there with the other flotsam of my dance career. :)
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