The build up to Joseph was, to say the least, disconcerting. I was lucky enough to be able to sit in on one of her P'zazz lessons at school lunch time, and watched as half the class rolled around on the floor, some falling asleep, some coming and going, others trying to read guitar manuscripts. Thankfully, my own Molly was singing her little heart out, but not a Joseph song in sight. This was three weeks before the show. I asked the teacher if she planned on actually singing the Joseph songs, which she said she was going to, and I asked if the children would be on stage the whole time, as in the musical/film version they have a massive presence throughout. She said she'd never seen the show so couldn't tell! YIKES!
So I left it in their hands and judgement. I was after all paying them to teach her this. A week before the show, the kids had a Saturday afternoon rehearsal, just for two hours at the Theatre (James Theatre,Watford Grammar School). They came out of it feeling very proud and excited. I felt more at ease. But then we were told the day before the show, they had rehearsals from 6pm-9pm. Most of the kids are about 5 years old! 9pm!!! We all started to threaten we wouldn't send our kids out that late, but we gave in, in the name of showbiz. The kids were fine with it, but its one of the first times I've gone to bed before Molly got home. Hope that doesn't become a habit!
Saturday 29th March was the big show. There we two in fact, at 2.30pm and 6.30pm . I roped my wonderful Mother, Nephew and Sister in law to see the first show, and they were very polite. Mostly about Molly, and my dear friend, who's daughter was also in the Choir with Molly was slightly less complimentary. I was starting to dread watching the evening performance.
After the afternoon performance, the children were told they couldn't stay at the theatre, so they came home, for 45 minutes! Barely enough time to throw some food down their throats and make them sit still for 5 minutes and rest.
And so we headed back to the theatre for the evening show. The kids were taken off to put their choir T-shirts on (these are quite nice really) and we were given our tickets. Its a cute little theatre, but the showy mother in me, was then thinking, she should be on at Watersmeet or somewhere where more people can see her, not just family members of the cast!
The show was actually quite good. Some cast members were amazing, especially young Reuben. Joseph was great and the narrator, who had the biggest task of all, was quite good, although started off quite nervous.
The choir were of course amazing, but spent most of the time sitting in the theatre seats alongside us audience, so we couldn't see much of them. Luckily for me, Molly and Eva sat parallel to us, so we could see them doing their bit, and they did go on stage three times.
We were told not to take any photos, but there weren't even opportunities at the end, so I was a bit naughty..
When my baby is on stage though, no one is going to stop me from taking a photo!!
Looking through the programme, it became apparent that quite a lot of the children in the main cast were children of the people who run and manage P'zazz, which did explain a lot. But overall, it was enjoyable, the children did so well, despite it ending quite late (after 8pm) and the children all being knackered. Speaking to a couple of friends, we discussed whether we think they would do the next show next year... Hmmmm... maybe time to look at other drama options, although the children are all begging now to be in the Jungle book! March 2015. So watch this space, anything could happen, but well done to Molly and all the cast of Joseph this year.
And finally...... last week was our wonderful Head Mistresses 50th birthday. You know when your Head is loved when you can't get into her office for all the cards and flowers and chocolates... and a cake from the children of Year 1 (made by me!)
