Apart from people from back home no one really knows how good an actor or singer my Granda is. I still now admire his strength and commitment to such a hobby and love within his life.It has shown me that people can take knocks but with that power of their own and their inner strength you can get to a point where you are happy with what you are still able to do.
My Granda performed in The Wizard Of Oz. He was the scarecrow which was quite amusing if I may say so as it was around this point we were beginning to find out his diagnosis of alzheimer’s. I have always loved going to see my Granda perform as I would watch as he would become a character and see a different person rather than the one I knew. I always became mesmerised in how talented he was and how he was able to be one person on stage but still my Granda off. I saw many characters which my Granda played one being the scarecrow, before this he had played Val Jean from Les Mis. This complete jump of characters was a key in how I really decided that this was the career I wanted. This was what I found most interesting and what I wanted to study myself. The way of playing a character but also using your own knowledge and ideas to create an iconic and loveable character for the audience.
The memory I recall the most from seeing my Granda perform was when he first walked on stage as the scarecrow, he acted, he moved, he stumbled around as he was just starting to be able to walk. Dorothy said her line and then, silence. There was complete silence and my Granda’s face fell. He then got it back by turning and saying “oh pet I really do wish I had a brain right now.” He simply laughed it off and got his lines back, the rest of the show seemed to go without a hitch. Unfortunately due to this My Granda didn’t perform in a live performance again. A fear had taken over him and he no longer felt able to perform to the standard that should be expected.
I think this memory is strong as you could hear the panic in his voice but then the comedy he created from such an upsetting moment. It showed us as well as the audience that you can rehearse as much as you like, but sometimes it doesn’t stay in your memory. Sometimes you cannot make that connection.
I want to capture the audience with these memories, for them to be excited at what I am talking about, but as well known the heartbreak and the upsetting nature of such instances. As well as the fact that their is nothing that can stop it. Nothing will help, it is simply about making the best of what you still have.