Weeellll...

Hi there. How are you? Long time no see.

Yes, I know it's been since April. But there's been a lot going on, and not very much of it was fun.

However, today - well - today I have reason to post.

C. was in a play this week. The Missoula Children's Theater came through town to put on their production of "Cinderella." For those not familiar with MCT, they hold open auditions on Monday, then cast 50-60 children for the parts in the show. They rehearse 4 hours every day. On Saturday, they have a dress rehearsal and two performances.

Colson auditioned on Monday and was cast as the King. We were pretty surprised, as most of the named cast members were in middle or high school. Standing next to the 17 year old actor who played Prince Charming, Colson is not quite half as tall as him. I think that was the effect they were going for, though.

Here are the videos of Colson's appearances. I'll try to set the stage for each one. Turn up your speakers, though, and set the video to full screen.


1. This first clip shows his entrance. At the beginning of the clip, the beggars are asking for money from the lords and ladies of the town who are arriving at the ball. They turn around and watch the Town Criers enter and announce the arrival of the king.



I love that when he first walks out, the audience's reaction is "Awwww," because he's so tiny and - really- his costume is mostly hat. And the robe is clearly meant for a taller child. But then he starts his thing, and they laugh.

If you can't quite hear what he's saying, he's pointing to people in the audience and saying "How're you doing?" a la Joey Tribbiani of "Friends."




2. In this second clip, the Town Criers announce the King entering the ball. He makes the same sort of entrance, and announces "Food's on the table. Hope you can dance!" Watch for the little impromptu gesture he makes as he walks offstage...


Yep. Your eyes did not deceive you. My baby did the "Call me" sign to a girl in the audience.


3.



In the third clip, Cinderella runs away from Prince Charming. Colson enters with the glass slipper. "Perhaps this will help, son. She's forgotten her shoe."



4. This final clip is the longest, but I think it's the best. It begins with the Town Criers entering to try the shoes on the stepsisters.

Keep watching through the song. You can't see Colson (one of the tallest kids kneels down directly between Colson and the camera). But if you listen carefully, he sings the second solo in the second verse.

"I think it's rather sweet."



Keep watching 'till the end of the clip. Colson's best part is at the very end. :)