Travels with Ch - Day 10

When the ElderHostel info came, I glanced at it then put it aside to go over later. When I finally did get around to reading it more thoroughly, one portion struck fear in my heart and created anxiety for Ch. We were expected to share our "talents" in a talent show for our group. I had thought this tour would be learning about the theater, some behind-the-scenes stuff, and seeing shows. I did not know we were expected to have talent, much less exhibit it. Maybe we are supposed to form groups there and work something up, I thought. On repeated readings, it became quite clear that this was something we would have to do. Not only would Ch have to perform, I was expected to participate as well.


We went with the first thing that popped into my mind, an old song by some long forgotten singer, "We Ain't Got a Barrel of Money." Ch's mom immediately got on the 'net and ordered a CD with the song on it. CH and his brother practiced for days before we left, so he knew it well. What's more, Ch can sing...and carry a tune. I tossed some fabric and Elmer's glue into my suitcase, along with a prized hat bought on a trip to Mexico and destroyed by happy children. I would glue the patches on to our jeans and shirts, iron them on, and later be able to pop them off and wash away the glue in cold water. I wrote a short dialog to follow the song, put freckles on us both with an eyebrow pencil, and we were prepared.







We sang with the CD going in the background, just in case we got in trouble ...with words....or music...or stage fright. All in all, we did o.k. Charlie was great, belting out the song and looking cute.


On top of everything, this was to be critiqued by a real judge, one who auditions real acts. Naturally, everyone in the group was antsy in the beginning. Finally, we all settled down as we got to know one another and we just had fun with it.





The judge was Bill Lennon, one of the 11 Lennon children, ably assisted by his wife, Gail Lennon. His sisters are familiar to my generation since we grew up with them on the Lawrence Welk Show. Bill & Gail are both successful entertainers in their own right.






The critiquing of our acts was genuine but tactful and gentle.
"I'm sorry, I can't say anything about you because I was really watching Ch," Bill told me. That was fine with me. It meant I had done my job.
Three plaques were given to different participants, but we did not receive one. Instead, we received somthing better. Bill stopped by my seat on his way out and told me that Ch should pursue musical theater and he gave me his card. "Keep in touch," he said.
YES!
Ch had already elected to go to acting camp all summer at the Palace Theater. He is one happy camper!

"You Can't Do That, Dan Moody"

I have just returned from a play produced by our local small-town theater group from The Palace Theater. The name of the play is "You Can't Do That, Dan Moody." It was turned into a theater production from a young adult book by the same name. I have seen the play before but it still has an enormous impact.

A play in two acts by Ken Anderson and Tom Swift. Directed by Tom Swift . In September 1923, Williamson County tried and convicted the Ku Klux Klan for the first time ever in the United States. This year, in the courthouse the Palace Theater once again presents the play based on this historic trial, performed in the newly renovated, historically accurate court room in which the trial was held 84 years ago. Join us for a presentation of the true story of Williamson County's courageous stand for justice.

Dan Gattis, our State Representative, played the part of the young Dan Moody. Not only is he young and handsome, he turned in an excellent performance. This is the 5th year the play has been offered since its inception in 1998. This year all people who had previously had roles, were invited back to participate in sharing the roles. at different performances. The show is sold out in spite of the fact The Palace is also offering another play, "Cats", in the historic theater.

The Moody drama is being performed in the courthouse, as usual. What is unusual is that the courthouse has been restored to a historically accurate rendition of the original. The juror chairs had been stashed in a County warehouse. The railing in the balcony was reproduced from a section of the original retrieved from Salado, TX, where it had been stored for 50 years in someone's barn. The benches / pews in the courtroom are original. The wooden railing that separates the court proceedings from the citizens, is original. The court room itself has been restored to its original configuration, which meant an entire section of the floor that served as a ceiling had to be removed and the balcony reconfigured.

We were privileged tonight to have both the author of the book and co-author of the play, Ken Anderson, and co-author and director of the play, Tom Swift, speak to us. It was a chance remark that led to the writing of the book and another chance encounter that led to the play. We are fortunate.

The town has suffered through the loss of use of its courthouse for over a year while major restoration was undertaken. Everyone has complained about the eyesore in the middle of the town square where the building was surrounded by a high board fence for the entire time. It has been worth it.The icing on the cake is that Williamson County, Texas, is still known to be tough on crime and its perpetrators!