Korczak's Children

 I don't have any performance pictures yet, but last weekend we completed our most recent play. This year, Dad directed and I helped with costuming, volunteer coordination, and that sort of detail. This was a different position than I have ever had before, so it was a good learning experience.

First, the play is terribly sad. It is about the final days of Dr. Janusz Korczak's orphanage, leading to their deportation to Treblinka. Although he is given the opportunity to leave safely, he stays with his children, teaching them about death and courage. I couldn't read sections of the play without crying until performance week. And then, I think it was only because I was thinking of all the details of managing entrances, painting on a black eye, cuing up some music, and last minute costume changes that I didn't really think about what was happening on stage.

Second, Eamon played the role of a smuggler. He only had one scene, so he got a taste of backstage details, like setting the stage and providing some sound effects. He got to be on stage with his brother and a our old neighbor, so they had to all work very hard at not laughing. He brought a good sense of timing, reactions and energy, and confidence that helped the other actors on stage with him. I loved listening to the flow of his scene.

Third, Malcolm played the role of the smuggler's apprentice, who stays in the orphanage for a night or two, causing all sorts of trouble. He got to punch a kid, deliver several important one-liners, and play the villain in the play within the play. He also had to work on not laughing, but enjoyed every minute of playing the "crook." He had confidence and energy that brought out the best in his fellow actors. In the words of one audience member, "He killed it."

Fourth, I loved all the cast. It was a large cast and crew, about 55 students, from second grade to twelfth grade. There were some who drove me crazy. There were some who needed "extra guidance." But all of them are such wonderful kids. Not only did they have a lot of acting potential, they also were delightful to get to know, to hear their struggles and joys, to listen and sometimes answer their questions, to give them encouragement and, hopefully, wisdom that will help them not only in performances but in life. Several of my previous cast members would greet me with a hug, which set the tone for my interactions with all the rest. I was delighted when a little second grader randomly gave me a hug. And so proud to see our senior step into her role of orphanage matron.

Fifth, I began to get to know their parents and families. I learned how to communicate better with large groups of people, by maintaining personal connection and providing specific tasks or information. I struggled to edit every bit of information into as few words as possible, but got a 85% volunteer rate from the parents and families.

Sixth, a major head cold went around the cast. We didn't have a performance with the entire cast present, but we never lost a major role either. There was at least one kid who performed with a fever, sucking on cough drops in between scenes, but would not go home because he knew he was important to the play. And on the final performance, I wouldn't let one of the little girls go on for her final scene because she was so miserable, but she didn't want to leave the backstage either to go sit with her parents. My family was spared during performance week, but Malcolm started being stuffy Sunday night, and was pretty miserable today after developing an ear infection. He is on antibiotics now, so hopefully he will bounce back quickly, and fortunately the cold has not negatively affected his impression of theater. He can't wait until we do another one.

Finally, the thing I said the most to nervous students was something I was learning (again) myself. We have to do our part, then we leave the rest in God's hands. If I looked at the tangible record, this play shouldn't have happened. We hadn't performed the entire play straight through until opening night. Lines weren't memorized. Entrances were spotty. Scenes started before the scene changes were complete. We skipped scenes, dropped lines, made too much noise backstage, etc. It should have been terrible. But it wasn't. We did our best. We prayed a lot. We worked and worked and worked. We gave it to God. And He blessed the work of our hands. Parents were proud of their kids. The audience was moved to tears. We received so much positive feedback, and people who had only been planning on attending once, came back to see it again. We must give thanks to God because He was the one who made it work.