My girls are stumbling around the house in a knocked out daze. Twice today they met Jesus, sang with Jesus, loved with Jesus, and killed Jesus – all in front of 350 school kids.
Today the cast of Journey Theater Arts Group’s Godspell, Jr. performed “school day shows”, a chance for the kids to perform in front of a live audience before opening weekend. I’m not going to lie. This may be my favorite show I’ve ever seen my daughters perform. I don’t want to take my eyes from the stage, afraid I’ll miss a detail or reaction from one of the 37 youth in the play.
The musical is an emotional one. Two of the actors expressed their feelings in written form and I have permission to share their thoughts here. Read to peer inside the mind of a teenager asked to portray crucifying their Christ.
Rachel wrote a poem:
I have to tell you, at this point in rehearsal, I wasn’t very happy. Nothing anyone could say would make this rehearsal fun. It had passed that point. I was standing knees locked, arms folded, and a blank expression while Kristi [director] assigned us insults to yell at Jacob [playing Jesus] during the Finale’s instrumental break.
“Charlotte,” She said. “You’ll say ‘Save yourself.’”
Outwardly, I didn’t react. I might have nodded once, but my face didn’t change. Kaitlyn, who was standing near me, took a step nearer, hooked an arm through my arm, and put her head on my shoulder. I put my head on top of hers and we stood waiting for her name to be called.
Kristi assigned her something like “If you’re the king, come down from there.” I squeezed her arm when her name was called and she looked down at the ground, unhappy. No one was happy with what they were assigned except for three girls who got the only good statement. I can’t even remember what it was now.
Kristi played the music for us and told us we had to fill in the whole space with our yelling. We tried it and failed pitifully. Most of us just stood still, barely saying our line.
“Ok, we’re going to try it again.” Kristi said. “This time, close your eyes. Just close your eyes and yell. You can fall to your knees, act in pain, whatever you feel like you need to do. Move your ribbon around and keep your eyes closed until we’re done.”
We closed our eyes and she started the music. As soon as the instrumental break started, Kristi yelled. “NOW!!”
It was Hell.
Literally.
Everyone was screaming. I opened my eyes momentarily because I jerked my head too hard and I saw people writhing on the ground, falling to their knees, their faces turned up in pain. Everyone’s eyes were closed and we were all going full out. I screamed “Save yourself! Jesus, save yourself!” And jerked my (invisible) red ribbon around. I was the last one to stop yelling.
The instrumental break ended. The music stopped. I slowly opened my eyes and turned my head. Across the room, Priscilla was bawling, a few people were on the floor sobbing. Rachel and Kaitlyn next to me had their faces in the hands, shaking. Lindsey and Linda on the couch were wiping their eyes. Steve had his back to all of us, but he was slowly turning around. He held his binder over most of his face but his eyes were red and full of tears. Kristi stood silently and slowly nodded once.
“Good.”
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