Someone in the cast had a family emergency.  Someone whom I adore and love.  Several people understudy different parts of his track.  And I swing for someone who had to step in for him during Be Our Guest. . . therefore ladies and gents I had to step into the role of Napkin for Be our Guest.  I can’t tell you what I was feeling.  It wasn’t excitement or nervousness.  I was very calm.  I had never even tried on my costume so the fact that it was “on its way” was a bit nerve racking, and then it didn’t arrive till after curtain went up (it got there about 20-25 minutes before I needed to go on) so once it was there I had a few practice turns in it – that material is HEAVY and it really meant if I wanted to stop turning I had to dig my landing and tighten up the abs and ass.  Everyone says I did great, it was really fun, it didn’t feel real, …it was really fun. 

The next day another girl was out with a family emergency.  i swing for her in the entire show.  SO – yes,  i was a villager and the cheese grater.  It was hysterical and fun and everyone backstage and onstage was helpful in getting me to the exact place I needed to be. 

And then there was yesterday.  People are getting sick left and right, myself included and yesterday we had the understudys for Lefou and Gaston go on – which meant through a few shifts that I would need to go on for “Kill the beast” and when the villagers storm the castle.  So there I was at a put-in rehearsal (put-in, where people that need to be placed in the number are placed and get to run it) shivering with 3 layers on a scarf and beanie and a fever and just glad I didn’ have to be a napkin – when the stage manager and assistant choreographer come to me and say thank you aiyani, but we’re sending you home.  A part of me was relieved, a bigger part was starting to cry and I held back the tears until I was up the stairs.  Then Cleveland came over to me (you don’t who cleveland is yet do you?. . . I’ll tell you later) and asked if I was ok of course the answer was no and I started to cry and he just hugged me and kissed my forehead and said it was better that I got some rest and he would call me later.  Then Christine and Matt were backstage (both classmates, ones a dresser – helps all girls with their costumes, matt is a male swing) and I just lost it infront of them.  I was bawling my eyes out crying because I was letting so many people down and I didn’t get to go on and I felt horrible and they just hugged me and tried to make me feel better.  They were so possitive, they were wonderful and made me feel a bit better. 

I got home, had some soup and downed some nyquil in hopes that it would help.  It did, at least a little.  I still missed my theatre history class this morning – which I was later told was cancelled anyways, so that’s good for me. . . and soon I’m off to the theatre just to make sure they don’t need me. 

I have tons of homework, at least thats what it feels like.  I need to choreograph a movement piece to the poem I chose (thanks to Joel I have a WONDERFUL piece to work with) and I putting it to the theme of Armageddon (sp?) I have to write a critical paper for history, a paper for professionalism, memorize a scene, memorize a monologue and assignment 4 for text.  I guess its a good think I like typing and can do it well. 

I’m (hopefully) going to Utah to visit husband (Antoan) for new years, it will be nice to see the best friend and. . . yah – 22 shopping days, I love wish list on amazon.com