First mate's log:
August 23, 1973
The Bradys had a mix-up with the Blenford Auditorium, so they're going to stage the play in their backyard. I don't know why they didn't just plan that from the beginning. After all, they've been building sets there anyway, and they would've had to take them, and the costumes, over on one or both of their boats. This way, they can make everything at home and then take it out to their backyard.
Mary Ann made my huntsman costume for me, even though she's so busy with her restaurant. I like that she's a mix of old-fashioned girl and modern career woman. And I do what I can to help her. Anyway, the costume is pretty cool, with a red feather in the cap, and a dagger that I threaten Mrs. Brady with.
Yeah, I'm rehearsing with them now that the play will be put on locally. And it's only two days away now. Everyone knows their lines except Sam. I have to bite my tongue, because I probably would've made a better Dopey. At least I'm doing OK as the Huntsman I think, although I wish I was more menacing.
Carol Brady's diary:
August 25, 1973
Oh gosh, the play is today and we're out of apples! Mike figured out how we could hold the play in our backyard, even seating forty people. Things seemed to be going smoothly, even with the addition of Gilligan as Huntsman. (Mary Ann offered to make his costume, which was a relief to me and Alice.)
The problem is, Alice kept eating apples when she was practicing her lines on her own. She wasn't doing it consciously, and then, after she changed into her costume and we were going through the props, she realized that she'd eaten the last one this morning. The only fruit we have in the house now is bananas, which are too comical to work as "poison." (Yes, we always have plenty of bananas on this island, and they're literally a dime a dozen.)
I sent Gilligan to Garst's General Store to buy more apples, but that was over half an hour ago! We could probably put the play on without the Huntsman, or draft someone else to play the role, maybe with an improvised costume, since Gilligan was wearing it when it when he left. But I am worried that something may've happened to him, even though the store isn't that far. Mary Ann is sure it's fine, but she tends to have more faith in Gilligan than the rest of us, and not just because she married him. She thinks he's got some alternate scheme up his sleeve, but I don't find that reassuring.
I've sent Peter to Garst's to check on Gilligan. (I would've sent Greg, but Doc has a lot more lines than Sneezy.) And I told him that if there's any fruit close to apples, he should buy it.
August 26, 1973
Wow, yesterday was crazy! I figured there might be some small screw-ups with the play, but the show would go on. Then Mrs. Brady sent me to Garst's to buy more apples, because Alice ate all of them. And Alice, as the Queen, needed to give Mrs. Brady, as Snow White, a "poison" apple. I knew we didn't have any apples at home, or at the Pizza Parlor. I guess I could've gone door to door, asking the Bradys' neighbors, but most of them were in the audience and I figured she'd ask them herself if she thought they had any apples.
Mr. Garst's son Billy thought my costume was funny, but I quickly explained. He's working at the store as a full-time summer job, although he's only Jan's age. He said that Alice cleaned them out of apples and they're waiting for another shipment from Blenford. I couldn't think of anyplace else to get apples, so I decided to take the ferry over to Blenford myself.
The Skipper and the rest of the ferry crew thought my costume was hilarious, even though I'd told the Skipper about the play. I was really glad that I wasn't wearing a Dopey costume. No, there weren't any apples on board either, but we never served them, even back in the old three-hour-tour days out of Honolulu.
As soon as we docked, I headed to the supermarket. They had apples of course. I just bought a couple, since the prices are higher than at Garst's. I was going to head to the dock and wait for the next ferry, but then a policeman came over, also on foot. I didn't think the Huntsman costume was that wild, but he was suspicious of my dagger.
I explained to him about the play, and why I was over there buying apples. Then he asked if we had a permit to put on an amateur production in a backyard. I said I didn't know, but I figured Mr. Brady had taken care of the paperwork. Besides, I think Mr. Howell technically owns the island, or at least his lawyer set the zoning laws. (Mrs. Brady did ask the Howells about letting us put the play on in their mansion, or on the grounds, but the Howells are hosting a senator and his wife this weekend, and they didn't want "the hubbub.")
So I convinced the police officer to go on the ferry with me. But first he called his wife and told her about the play, because they have two little kids who like fairytales. I asked if that meant the show could go on, and he said, yes, if the Bradys filled out paperwork after the fact, since this was sort of for charity.
You can imagine the reaction of the Skipper and the rest of the crew when I showed up at the dock with a policeman. I quickly explained, but the guys razzed me of course. I ate one of the apples (making sure to keep the other apple safe in the huntsman's satchel) and tried to act like it didn't bother me.
The policeman, whose name is Elvenn (which, yeah, is a very fairytale name), escorted me to the Bradys' backyard. You can imagine how the crowd reacted to that. Officer Elvenn and I quickly explained to Mr. and Mrs. Brady.
Then, yeah, the show went on. Luckily, I wasn't onstage right away, so I had time to catch my breath. I think the play went fine, but I was mostly watching backstage. Alice did seem surprised that I got her a yellow apple instead of a red one, but she made up a funny line about it, so it was OK. And I noticed that Mr. Brady had trouble kneeling with the horse part of his costume, so Mrs. Brady had to lift her head so he could "wake her with a kiss." But the audience seemed to enjoy even the little mistakes.
And, yeah, Mrs. Whitfield seemed flattered by the Bradys, and Alice, Sam, Mary Ann, and me putting in so much effort. And she loved her gift, or gifts, since it was a bunch of books.
The Professor, Ginger, and Matt were in the audience. He's a cute kid and he really enjoyed the show. But it's still weird to see them as parents, especially sort of all of a sudden. Then again, they seem to be good with Matt. The Professor was always kind of like an uncle, even to the Howells, in the way that he'd teach us all stuff but he never tried to be the boss. And sometimes I've thought that Ginger was vain and self-centered, but she also has a warm, caring side, like when she acted like a nurse or just listened to my problems.
Matt did seem a little lonely, sort of like he was jealous of the Brady kids having so many brothers and sisters, but he's used to the orphanage, with all those kids around. And school will be starting a week from Tuesday, so he'll probably make some new friends soon.
August 27, 1973
Well, Gilligan did finally show up with an apple, over an hour later, but it was very stressful waiting for him. It turns out that Alice had bought all the apples at the general store and they hadn't been able to get a fresh supply yet. So Gilligan, with his Gilligan logic, took the ferry over to Blenford to buy apples at the supermarket. He ran into a policeman, on his way back to the Blenford dock, who noticed his costume, because of course he wore his costume, rather than stop by his place and change first.
The officer was very nice and understanding, and he even had his wife and kids sail over to see the show. No, we didn't charge admission for him and his family. Not that it was a bribe, more of a thank you. He told us that we would need to fill out some paperwork, with Mr. Howell, and file it at the Blenford courthouse. I know, this island isn't under the jurisdiction of the bigger island, but we weren't about to argue the matter right then of course. The main thing was that our play could go on.
Of course, none of us knew why Gilligan was gone so long while we were waiting. I suppose we could've just done the play without waiting for Gilligan or apples. Jan suggested using another piece of fruit, so Bobby joked we could use a "pine-apple."
We didn't want the audience to get too restless, so the children sang a couple of Greg's songs a capella, without Peter, because I'd sent him over to Garst's. (When Peter came back, he said that his friend Billy, who works for his father, told him that Gilligan did come in but left when he found out there weren't any apples.) And I sang a show tune, also a capella.
Then I noticed Ginger was there, with Roy and their new little boy. She didn't need much encouragement to come up onstage and perform for half an hour. She was a big hit, especially with the fathers on songs like "Let Me Entertain You" and "I Wanna Be Loved by You." (The Professor didn't seem jealous. He's always admired her talent, and he knows how devoted she is to him.)
I even called Mrs. Whitfield up onstage herself, and instead of giving a farewell speech, she told fairytales (other than Snow White), from memory, and with all the character voices. It was utterly charming.
As for the play itself, there were some little snags but overall it went well, and our wonderful, patient audience laughed and cheered at all the right moments. Mrs. Whitfield really appreciated the books, and all we'd done for her. And not just that day, but the past five years. But of course, she's given so much to this island community. She will be very much missed.
And, yes, school starts in a week, with a new kindergarten teacher. Even Cindy is long past that age. She's going into fifth grade, while Bobby will be in his last year at the primary school. Jan and Peter will continue at the junior high, Marcia and Greg at the high school. But, yes, a year from now Greg will be off to college, somewhere.
Matt Hinkley will be going into third grade at one of the primary schools on Blenford. He's a very cute little boy, and he reminds me of Bobby when he was that age, only with blond hair of course.