Things I Miss: Performing, Portuguese, Playwriting, and Ping-Pong

performing

This last week I visited my sis. Stacia in St. George to watch her tear it up on stage.  She did not disappoint.  The only downside for me about going to the theater is I can feel the stage beckoning me back.  I miss performing.  I was last in a play nearly 3 years ago at the Hale Center Theater.  After a disastrous opening night, where I forgot all my lines, things got better, and I loved the whole experience.  I love being part of a cast.  I love entertaining others.  Since then I have found small ways to entertain, I suppose.  Hosting play reading parties.  Going crazy at dances.   Hula-hooping in random talent shows, etc.  But it has been too long since I have done live theater.  I have two dream roles:  Algernon in the Importance of Being Earnest.  and The Scarlet Pimpernel.  So far, I was able to be Algernon in a one-act version of the play.  However, my inability to sing, or more aptly put, my lack of drive to maximize the potential that people tell me I have to be a good singer, may keep me away from the Scarlet Pimpernel role.  But hey, who knows, perhaps in ten years. . .  Anyway, I'm excited to get a new job, and hopefully, one that allows me enough time to perform on occasion.  

I chose not to pursue theater as a career, partly after my experience with Ballroom.  I used to love ballroom, but when I started getting better and getting on better teams, the stringent professionalism and stress took the fun out of it for me.  So, I am content with just having theater as my hobby- something I can do to get away from stress as opposed to something that contributes to my stress.  

portuguese

Recently, I interviewed for a job where they want me to learn Spanish.  It actually seems like a promising job and I will take it if offered (probably have a good chance because I think I'm the only one the guy has interviewed- long story).  Regardless, I am excited about being forced to learn a new language.  Lately, I've been attending a Spanish ward and am amazed at how similar it is to Portuguese.  And it really made me miss speaking my second language.  I occasionally read portuguese or listen to interviews or shows online in portuguese, but there is nothing like being able to communicate with others in another language.  

playwriting

It started with a 10 minute play in a theater class.   Soon the play turned into a one-act, but it wasn't even close to being done.  Too many plot lines to tie up.  So I took two playwriting courses and wrote a full-length play.  After finishing, I've periodically updated and revised the play.  I've work-shopped it a few times.  I have finally put that play to rest.  Though, if I do go back to the play, it will be a significant revision like cutting some characters as my playwriting teacher wanted me to do; but for some reason, I just can't seem to cut any of my 12 characters.  True, the 12 characters makes it less marketable---but the play was more fun to write for me---I wasn't concerned about marketability.   Still, I've had a few people tell me to send it in to some places- and I probably should. . . so we'll see.

Regardless, I miss playwriting.  I already have the title to the next one: The Mayor of Mudsling... but that's as far as I've gotten.  For some reason I do much better with deadlines; which is why I've thought about starting a small writing club in the future.  

ping-pong

In high school I was avid player of the pong.  My friend Mike and I would play nearly every day after school during my last semester of high school.  One of our shining moments is when we played the champion at a local institute and both of us triumphed.  I go to clubs now and then, but it doesn't seem enough.  I miss the obsession.

presently...

Presently, as I sit around waiting for bar results and search for jobs, I'll continue dreaming about the things I miss.