Before the curtain went up on night two of the play, I got to watch the hilarious escapades of Paul Blart: Mall Cop.  The film finds officer wannabe and quite agile mall security man Paul Blart (Kevin James of “The King of Queens”) up against a group of high-tech robbers on Black Friday.  I must congratulate the writers of the piece for setting the action at the end of the busiest shopping day of the year… what a coup that would be!  The bad guys take a number of hostages including the object of Paul’s affection.  The security officer takes it upon himself to not only defend and protect his mall but also rescue the hostages.  Several laugh out loud moments abound.  I also loved the use of 80s tunes throughout, including “I Can’t Hold Back” by Survivor.  I also found Paul’s “Detroit Rock City” on Guitar Hero very entertaining.  A hilarious movie that was a much more family oriented take on Die Hard.

Night two It’s a Wonderful Life was great!  Dan and Carla were up from Sandusky.  After the show, Dan told me that I rivaled Lionel Barrymore (who originated the role  in the classic movie).  Quite a compliment from someone who watches the film annually.  Over 100 people were in the audience so while only filling about a third of the seats, a great turnout.  For some reason, I got more boos at curtain call that night one.  And several audience members told me how evil my performance was.

After intermission, there was a drawing for a free ticket to a show next year (something that was forgotten Friday night… sorry).  I could have sworn that the name ShelBY Shaffer was announced.  However, two things are wrong with that.  One, I don’t think she could win since she is part of the show.  Two, she did not sign up for the draw.  The winner was ShelLY Shaffer (no relation).

So for a good time… check out Paul Blart: Mall Cop and come to one of the final four productions of It’s a Wonderful Life.  Incidentally, I did watch the last half hour of the movie after returning from the performance.

It really was a great premiere.  Not sure how many audience members we had but on a Friday night during basketball season… Mr. Potter is definitely now high on my favorite character list.  I love doing evil!

Admin and Taylhis sat in the front row but with the lights on stage, I would have never known… not that I would try to look!  Beth (another game nighter) and her sister were in the audience.  The game nighter’s significant other was in another show… I do not believe successful human cloning is yet possible.

Jeff brought the three little ones.  After the show, they came to congratulate me.  Noah had gone under after the first act.  Elizabeth enjoyed it but Joshua stated that he did not have a great view… was he sitting behind a pole?

A Wonderful show a Wonderful cast, Wonderful fans (which someone is always quick to acknowledge… thanks pal! just wish my special one was still here, but know she was in spirit), and 5 more Wonderful shows to go.  So glad we have two weekends.  One is not nearly enough for this show… and two might not be (it’s been awhile since I have gone 2).

And a shoutout to my great Goon who finally was able to wheel me on and off every time.

Kudos also to the genius behind the 7.30 curtain time.  It allowed some people to stay and chat longer!  Just the right time.

This afternoon, after picking my new-battery installed car from the theatre, I went to the school to watch the dress rehearsal of Alex and Alyssa’s Elementary Christmas program.  I just found out about it this morning and since I am otherwise engaged this evening, I thought I would go and lend an ear.  The program was divided up into two adorable musical revues.  The K-2 portion featured close to 90 little ones in a show entitled The Incredible Reindeer.  It seems that an asteroid is hurtling straight toward the North Pole which will not only wipe out the planet but will cancel Christmas.  Enter a quartet of super-powered reindeer: Lightspeed, Mighty Moose, Laser, and Robodeer.  Will the heroes save the day and who will lead the sleigh through the murky fog with Rudolph out with a cold?

The second half was an American Idol parody entitled North Pole Star.  The eight reindeer were the contestants with the host and three celebrity judges: Santa and Mrs. C, and the obligatory Simon stand in (sorry did not catch the name).  The audience got into the act by voting for their favorite on a ballot sheet.  Personally, I thought Comet the Comic was the most talented, but once again I was not in the majority.

The shows were really cute little ones standing in front of the microphone delivering their short lines. I was impressed with many of the older kids’ solos, not bad for the age group.  I remember the program my 5th grade year, the masterpiece that is Santa and the Snowmobile.

to our final rehearsal for tomorrow night’s gala premiere, I stopped by the BP to fill up.  I come back to the car and start her up.  OOOPS… no start.  I try again… NO START.  A good samaritan comes along and gives me a jump start.  WHOO HOO.. we make it the final half block to the theatre.  During intermission, I went back to the car to start it up again just to make sure.  AAAAND you guessed it, no soap.  One of the cast members knows the owner of the local auto store in town and asked if I would like him to check it out in the morning.  OH. THANK YOU BERT!  We decided that it was probably the battery that has not been changed since I bought it back in ’02.  Nice 🙁  So my little car is sitting in the lot.  Thank goodness, we got Chad to come pick Shelby and I up.  I did not want to chance another start and die on the way home.

The show itself is definitely ready for an audience!  All this “sentimental hogwash” can now get underway!  WOW… 24 hours from now, night number one will be in the books!  In less than 21 hours, the curtain will rise.  I am ready for the thunderous applause (or something…) to begin.  Break a leg all!

And nowhere was that more apparent then at work today.  When I arrived, the indoor had it’s usual mind of it’s own during blustery days.  So, I locked it much to the chagrin of customers who still tried to push it open without heeding the “Please Use Other Door” sign.  People actually thought we were closed at 5PM.  The marquee with our specials advertised out front also was problematic.  I don’t know how many people came in and told us that it was about to blow away.  It was so wind that the swinging doors leading to the stock room would swing back and forth.  I don’t know of any ghost stories surrounding the store, but I have been in the catacombs and it is not a pretty sight!  Maybe a projectionist from the days of the movie theatre met an unfortunate end.  Ah, well we may be in for a long winter and the calendar still says we are still in Autumn.

.  And here’s a cute video to enjoy in the cold.

Everything is falling nicely into place… of course, there are a few minor details to be worked out before Friday’s opening, but I would be even more surprised if there were not.  I definitely have found a role that rivals even the visitor from another country in terms of ranking.  It is so funny that fellow cast members who were at the audition site told me that I nailed the role of Henry F. Potter right then!  Am I really that good at playing evil?  There’s that oxymoron again.  I did get my ears lowered this afternoon.  I don’t think a man in the 1920s-40s would have long hair, particularly a gentleman of stature.  I noticed that my goon, admittedly, was looking rather shaggy tonight as well (not to mention his attire).  It is rather late in the game so there is really no chance of finding a replacement.  I must say that good help is so hard to find!

There was a photographer taking shots for the paper tonight.  She noticed my character and mentioned that if this kept up, I would become typecast.  Why?  Well… you will just have to come and see for yourself.

I have seen Miracle on 34th Street… not the 1947 classic, not the made for TV redux, nor the most recent big screen treatment.  Tonight, I treated my sister and her two little angels to a live production.  I absolutely LOVED IT! The entire cast was magnificent… from the smallest child, to the briefest cameo, to the big guy himself.  The set was a stroke of genius.  The entire production flew by.  Everything that makes the classic film such a treasure was in place along with a few added bits that were pure delights.

Since purchasing the tickets on-line Tuesday, I had been overwhelmed by shrieks of anticipation by a certain 6 and 4 year-old.  Finally, the night arrived and I treated everyone to McDonald’s before going to the theatre.  A miracle in itself was that the girls actually were done eating BEFORE the time I said we had to head out.

During the show, Sydney was on my lap the whole time and was totally enthralled by the magic on stage.  Alyssa, on the other hand, was asleep before intermission.  After going down to the “confession” stand (as the 6 year old calls it),  Sydney began to share her M&Ms with Megan and I.  How cute was that?  And on the other side of me, Alyssa was again sawing logs.

After the show in the reception line, I told the girls to go sit on Santa’s lap but they wouldn’t… until I apparently moved down the line.  I didn’t see it..  I saw some fans in the audience who asked why I was not on stage and I put in a plug for a little show coming up in a mere 5 days.  I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Once again… brilliant job one and all.  You created the Christmas spirit in everyone in the audience and made us all believe.  BRAVO! My favorite part as it is in the movie… I just love the little Dutch girl who hasn’t a friend but sits on Santa’s lap and they begin singing a song from her native land.

This morning, Mom and Dad and I went to pay our respects at the funeral home.  None of us could go last night so we went for the gathering before they processed to the church.  We KNEW that the rather small church would not hold many people and with 10 children, 38 grandchildren, and who knows how many great grandchildren, there would not be many places available for other than very immediate family members.  I was hoping to catch Britt there but she must have been running late.

After, we returned to watch Elizabeth play basketball.  A riot watching the young girls begin to develop.  Autumn was great although she missed a shot and her mother yelled “USE THE BACKBOARD!”  Yep, definitely her father’s daughter 😀 .  I thing Elizabeth did more sliding across the slippery floor.  More than once, she got the ball and OOPS… whistle blows and traveling called.

I was also asked if I would like to get tickets to Wicked coming in April.  Of course… most musicals are worth at least a try.

And tonight, I am taking my sister and two young ladies to see the Santa Claus play.  They have been asking, and asking about it and finally it is almost here.  I must say that I am pretty excited myself.

Just found out that my nephew, Joshua came in second place in his school’s spelling bee putting him on the next step to the National Bee.  As you might have guessed, he misspelled toboggan.  As his father so eloquently pointed out, Joshua did not inherit his spelling and grammar skills from him.  Definitely his math and computer knowledge.

I just am curious as to when they started taking the top two finalists on to the next level.  I would have progressed not only my 8th grade year but at least my 5th grade year when the champion and I went back and forth until I finally incorrectly spelled illegible. My sixth grade year, I had an unfortunate slip of the tongue when I put a g in pajamas (still remember that).  I do not remember how far I got my 7th grade year nor do I remember the word I won on my 8th grade year… go figure.

Anyway… good luck Joshua in January.

Ok… play on words.  It’s a Wonderful Life is about to get even cuter.  I know that this has been planned for a while, but tomorrow night will be a rehearsal for a children’s choir that will perform prior to curtain time… if there are any eavesdroppers who have elementary-jr. high students who would be interested (6pm at the Huber Opera House.  Now if we get 100 kids there, we know who to blame 😉 ).  I think this is a brilliant move!  It will not only provide LIVE pre-show entertainment, but will hopefully fill even more seats.  I have already been approached by people in E-town about what show I am in this Christmas (if any).  I immediately exclaim that I am the sinister Mr. Potter (not to be confused with the boy wizard).  Many people from the numerous churches in town (so many for a town this size… long story that I will not get into) have apparently been making plans to get groups together.  Nothing on my own church, but who knows.  I had at least 3 customers today who are making plans!

We also have an extremely gifted artist in the cast.  Our own George Bailey has produced at least one painting depicting a scene from the show that I am assuming will be on display and signed pieces will be available for purchase.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be part of this GREAT show and the fun and wonderful cast and the director and producer ain’t bad neither 😉