The Big Night

Thursday night was the big night: Matilda the Musical.

It's impossible to capture the experience in words or even pictures. We were thoroughly entertained, impressed by every member of the cast, overcome by emotion at seeing our girls perform on stage, overwhelmed with gratitude at being associated with something so amazing ... and we haven't stopped thinking about it, talking about it or singing the songs from it ever since.

For several days before the show, I was so nervous--sick to my stomach with worry about how it would all go. Of course, I knew the girls had been practicing all year, but I was worried they'd get sick (their director--who'd never missed a day--had just come down with Covid a week earlier), worried Alaina would be paralyzed by stage fright (she, herself, had expressed this concern), worried that all the problems with the show that the girls had told me about over the year would not be resolved.... 

Every day last week, I dropped Ben, Janae and Alaina off at the arts center at 8 a.m. and picked them up at 4:30 or 5:00 or 7:00, depending on when their dressed rehearsals and tech set-up had finished for the day. Then, finally, Thursday morning the first cast (including Janae, who played the same parts in all shows) performed for some local schools. Janae came home in the afternoon and told me it had gone great--kids were crying at the sad parts, booing the bad guys, etc., fully engaged with the story and the actors.

Thursday night would be Alaina's first time in front of an audience, and we'd filled two rows with friends and family, all ready to watch the play....

And it was just amazing. From start to finish, the performance absolutely dazzled us. There were so many talented singers, dancers and actors in the cast, as well as in the live orchestra. The special effects (including a student being spun around and then falling from the sky!) surprised us and made everything look so good. 

We weren't allowed to take pictures or video during the performance, but photos and videos are emerging on Instagram, etc., and some professional pictures should be coming soon.

In the meantime, here is a scene with Janae and Alaina on stage together.

Here's Ben with the tech crew.

And here are Janae and Alaina with some of their flowers after the show.

Alaina's cast performed again on Friday morning for their own school and some other local schools. I went Friday night to see Janae with the other cast, and saw the emotion of all the actors as the show concluded. Alaina and Janae had really connected with some of the cast, many of whom will be graduating this year, so they were very sad to have it all come to an end. They will miss their rehearsals and all the anticipation and busyness of an upcoming show.

Even though the end has been bittersweet, I am so proud of my girls and all that they have accomplished in acting and singing, and of Ben with his role in building the set and helping run the tech side of the show. It is an experience that will always be a part of them, and I'm so grateful to have been part of it as well.

Our Very Own Celebrity

Alaina has been in the spotlight a lot this month, playing her cello in a strings festival at the beginning of May and also getting ready to perform as Matilda in her school play next week.

Alaina hadn't performed live on her cello (for anyone except her family) since her very first recital, a Christmas concert in December 2019. We were really excited for her to play in her first festival on May 7, and the adjudicator gave her lots of positive comments. A few days later, she traded in her 1/2-size cello for a 3/4 size. 

Even more than practicing the cello, though, Alaina has been preparing for her role as Matilda in Matilda the Musical, her first experience with musical theater. She and Janae have been at the school late into the afternoons all year, as well as many hours on Saturdays, practicing songs, choreography and acting--all while wearing masks until April. Most impressively, though, Alaina has not missed even one practice!

Alaina has also taken her role to heart in other ways. For example, even though she'd already read several of the books Matilda mentions in the musical, including A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Rings, and The Secret Garden, Alaina has been working through the rest of her character's list of favorites, including Oliver Twist, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Nicholas Nickleby. Alaina has also re-read the novel Matilda, listened to the musical soundtrack as much as possible, and re-watched the movie.

 I have loved hearing her singing the songs or quoting the lines with Janae or Eric, and throughout the year our anticipation for the play has been building.

Lately, though, we've had the added experience of seeing Alaina's face around town on promotional posters. We were so surprised the first time … we were just going into a store, and there she was!

And then she turned up on Instagram.

(Janae, too!)

Yesterday, I was just casually reading the newspaper, and there Alaina was again :)

Clearly, "fame isn't everything," but it's kind of fun to have our new celebrity (I always try to say it in Snape's voice) showing up in unexpected places as the school promotes the play.

This week both girls (as well as Ben, who was recruited to the stage crew) will be in dressed rehearsals and performances all day every day, so we'll finally get to see them on stage! 

Without a doubt, this past year has been an amazing time of growth and new experiences for Alaina, and we are so proud of her.