We’re in the eerie calm after the storm now that the week-long run of Guys and Dolls is over. Jemima was playing Miss Adelaide, her first time in a principal role, and boy what a great role it was for her! It completely suited her effervescent personality, and the songs were in a good range for her to sing. The few weeks leading up to the show were hectic, mind, with me taxi-ing her back and forth. But I remember the mantra I taught myself when the babes were young – make the most of every phase, and don’t dwell on the less pleasant aspects. Because they grow up all too soon, and those happy moments will soon only be memories.
So we’re making the most of our car time together. We listen to a bit of Classic FM, to improve her listening skills which she needs to do for her Music GCSE, and we talk about the future.
She did her Grade 6 ballet in the same week as the show, and I was talking to her ballet teacher while she was in the exam room. Previously she had encouraged me to persuade Jem not to go to London next year to dance college, but to stay and go to Belfast Met instead. But when we were discussing her knock-em dead performance, we both agreed that we might reconsider. I know like any mother, I will support her to the hilt in whatever is the best option for her future, but boy I’ll miss her when she’s gone.
Sadly, we’ve just discovered that she’s too young to go for Lloyd Webber’s next search, which is for Dorothy. Basically they can’t interrupt compulsory education. Shame, cos she’d be the right type for that role, but there’ll be other chances. She was quite sanguine about this, and is being very industrious about preparing for her GCSEs next year. She’s also busy filling in application forms for the main dance schools that she’s keen on – Laine, Arts Ed, and Bird. So no doubt we’ll be over to London a few times in the New Year!
Filed under: Dance, kids, Musicals | 3 Comments »