My senior year, I played
Princess Elizabeth in King Richard III. Dr. Bob Junior, who
was the President of the University and a seasoned Shakespearean
actor, played Richard. He chose Colley Sibber's version of the play
which reduced a lot of the other parts, including mine. I was simply
a walk-on in this play. That's why I got the part! I made a brief
appearance on stage at the beginning of the play just so the audience
could id the character. Then at the end, my Queen mother, aka Elizabeth
Edwards my speech teacher, lead me back on stage and up this winding
staircase to Sir Somebody-or-other, aka Dr. Panosian, my freshman
world history teacher, who then made a moving, closing speech all
the while holding my hand. It was very romantic. The thing was,
my gown was TOO long. Try as I would, I could never get up those
ascending stairs without stepping on my hem and stumbling - even
if I held it up to my ears, which of course I didn't. Wardrobe just
pooh-poohed the problem so somehow Mrs. Edwards dragged me out on
stage and up those steps to Dr. Panosian.
Perhaps the neatest experience
was getting to work so closely and casually with Dr. Bob Junior
after attending BJU for four years. He kidded around with all of
us back stage during rehearsals and performances like a regular
guy.
So, okay,
it was only a walk-on part, but I did get this really neat picture
out of the deal with my Speech teacher and my Word History teacher.
Doesn't it look impressive? ;)