Watching a Rose Bloom

Last night before I rushed off (I know I had all day to get ready) to the theatre for the first evening performance of "And the Story Goes On...", I went into the backyard and snipped a petite pink rose off the bush. When I got to CSD's Little Theatre, I gave the rose to one of the stage hands and asked her to give it to my daughter backstage with the message that "Dad says I love you."

I realized later that I'd forgotten to text Miranda that I wouldn't be around after the show, because I was dashing out to a "True Apology" rehearsal of Pear Slices in Mountain View. The kids' show went okay, but I noticed the pace really lagging, especially in the final scenes. I sensed a restlessness in the audience, too. In a misguided attempt to encrease the urgency in the proceedings, I started voicing quicker and stepped on a few of my fellow voicers lines (though I was close to being in sync with the character I was voicing for). It's interesting to see how important "pace" can be to a show. If cues aren't being picked up and actors are over-indulging, it really can kill a play.

I dashed out of the Little Theatre at 8:50 and got to Pear Avenue Theatre by 20 after 9, to be told my timing was perfect. Though then I had to cool my heels for about 15 minutes as another piece finished up. Our run-through was quite rough, I tried to go through most of it off book. We got through it. We have a few more rehearsals to clean it up and pull it together.

When I got out of rehearsal, I had a text message on my phone from Miranda saying "thanks for the lovely rose!" I emailed her back, apologizing for having to leave without seeing her and explaining why I had to leave. She responded with a "no wonder."

Tonight I'm going to have another rose for Miranda. And I will be there after the show.

Yesterday and Tonight at the CSDF Little Theatre

The morning matinee yesterday went even better than the day before, so true to form the kids are pulling off what they do every year - taking a shaky show and making it enjoyable. My Miranda and I seem to have a little tradition going. A few minutes before curtain when my fellow voicers and I are sitting in the front rows with our microphones, Miranda appears in the dark of the wings and signs to me. I can just barely make her out in the black. Her pale hand appears, grabbing some stage light and I see "ILY." I sign back the same and tell her to break-a-leg.

My actress friend Cindy Goldfield and her boys enjoyed the show. Cindy liked how the show went from fables to real-life stories and back. As for Randi's part of the show about her eating disorder, Cindy said as we walked her young sons back to their car. "It's one of the reasons I'm glad I had boys."

Tonight is the first public evening performance. It starts at 7:30. I will rushing out of the theatre as soon as I can to get to Mountain View to rehearse my part of the Deaf character in my own play titled "A True Apology," which previews a week from tonight at the Pear Avenue Theatre. I am feeling pretty good about it despite having to jump in at the virtual last minute to take on the role for an overburdened actor. I am hunting around my house, looking for some ear plugs that I last used when I did a lot of swimming for exercise. Wouldn't Laurence Olivier do that same?

First Performance - MAR 31

Yesterday, the first performance for a live audience of CSD's spring play "And the Story Goes On..." went off without a hitch. The audience of mainly elementary school students enjoyed the show and I had fun voicing the male parts played by Cary Holcomb, a worthy successor to Dack Virnig's clowning stage presence on the Little Theatre stage.

Miranda's piece about her eating disorder experience in junior high was the most serious and pithy part of the show. She makes me so proud so often...

This morning we have another performance. My old friend and professional actress Cindy Goldfield will be attending with her two young sons. Cindy learned Signed English years ago when there was a deaf girl in her neighborhood and the small community got together and decided to learn it to make the girl's life more enriched. I'm anxious to see what Cindy thinks of the show and to introduced her to my Miranda.

Voicing for the Sping Play at CSDF

Tonight is the final dress rehearsal for the California School for the Deaf annual spring play. It's titled "And the Story Goes On..." and is student written under the direction of Heidi Burns. My Miranda is acting in the show and has also written one of the pieces. It's about her experience with anorexia when she was in junior high school. It was a horrible experience for her and for family. The staging of this episode is powerful and a little painful for me, as I remember the events all too well. Fortunately, I don't have to voice for any of the actors in this part of the show, so I can just sit back and take it all in.

This will be the 6th show that I have voiced for CSD. I started out voicing for "Grease" in 2002. That was quite an experience...seeing Deaf kids pull off a musical. They played the songs from the Broadway cast, signing and dancing to it.

Voicing for young deaf actors is always a challenge...especially when they don't stick with the script that you are trying to read from. The core team of 4 or 5 that does it every year has gotten quite close over the years. I always look forward to this. Check out the show if you can. Public evening performances are April 2, 3, 4 in Fremont.

Welcome to My New Blog

My intention is to frequently update this blog with postings about how I am handling my deaf daughter's transition from her senior year at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont to the Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

I have written a book called "Deaf Daughter, Hearing Father" that was published in the Fall of 2005 by Gallaudet University. It covers the first dozen years of Miranda's life. I've wanted to write more about her life because, as you can image, being in high school, there was a lot more to deal with...most of it good.

Come back soon. I promise to write honestly about life with a deaf teenager.