Stage Falling: A memoir
By Chloe Russell
Bang! Everyone flinched as a red block crashed into place at the foot of the makeshift bed. Yanking down a patchwork quilt, I ran and weaved between actors, on the packed exit ramp, down to the door. Pushing it open, I ran over and down the middle aisle, which seemed to slowly close up with the wiggling bodies of what seemed like one hundred five year – olds. Reaching my destination, at the back of the cafeteria, my hands began to sweat as Paige and I took our places behind the currently off spotlights.
Flipping the on switch, I stood ready to release my beam of light. The music started , and I directed my beam of light onto the "Candy Man". My sweat slicked hands gripped the small, metal handles mercilessly, in unison with the actor's movements toward our stage.
Looking down I saw a problem. Signaling Paige to finish my spotting, I turned the light off. Stepping down quickly, thoughts whirled through my mind. "No!" I thought, seeing my spotlight, my $2000 spotlight, was inches from falling off the table and breaking into thousands of pieces!
Reacting fast I pushed my spotlight back to the table's center. Suddenly I realized that no one had locked the wheels. Some person passed by me, knocking into my table, sending my spotlight rolling forward. Breathing hard I pushed the locking mechanism down. "This night will never be perfect now. It will be a constant reminder of failure." I whispered to myself. Tears welling in my eyes, I sat and found my place in my script.
"Chloe," Paige asked, "what's wrong? That was your spot cue. Why did you have me take it?"
"I almost pushed the spotlight off the table," I sniffed as tears began to fall like a waterfall,"That's why. this play will never be perfect now!"
Patting my back, Paige smiled and chuckled softly, "Not everything's perfect. Mistakes get made and problems occur, but you just keep on try'n. Let's go do our best, and show those actors what's what. Smiling at Paige, I stepped up to the spotlights, put my hands on the lever and I showed those actors "what's what". Everything went off without a hitch. The dances were executed, the lines were spoken, and when all was said and done we got a standing ovation.
From that night on, I've always remembered Paige's wise words. Now I never give up, no matter how much goes wrong. That night my entire perspective changed. I've learned to not expect perfection, but I don't condone failure. In truth, perfection is something that we mere humans can't obtain. Now I tell myself to do my best. Moreover, you know what …, so should you.