Saturday Song: Hold On!

 One of the great joys of my life was the opportunity to perform as Archiebald Craven in the glorious musical play The Secret Garden with BOTH of my daughters. A few years later I had to settle for a supporting role as old Ben the gardener -- I had aged out of the Archie role. BUT my disappointment was greatly assuaged by getting to share the stage again with one of my daughters. This time Lillian played the role Brannon had played the first time, and like her older sister before her she made this song a real showstopper. 

Here's Lillian singing "Hold On"...

Saturday Song: Lily's Eyes

I have had the privilege of singing this duet in two productions. I sang the Archibald Craven role as part of Prospect Theater Company's Broadway Revue at DeSoto Theater in Rome, Georgia, in the late nineties.

Then jin 2004 we did a full staging of the play at Rome City Auditorium, under the auspices of Rome's Own Musical Ensemble. It was a particular joy to sing the role of Archibald in this production because both of my daughters also had major roles. Brannon had gorgeous solos and a wonderful dramatic part as Martha, and Lillian sang beautifully as Rose.

Then later, when I was taking voice lessons from Angela Flanagan (who played the ghostly Lily in the 2004 production) I recorded the duet -singing both parts. So this is a duet with myself. I tried to give the two characters Achibald and his brother Neville distinctive voices.

Gleaning Facebook: Technology & Grandma Ruth

Ruth Baird Shaw gets such a kick out of seeing pictures and watching videos of her grands and great-grands!

Last night we set up Sheila’s computer with an external speaker so she could watch & hear Lillian’s performance of “Hold On” from The Secret Garden. While we were still there Brannon posted a very short video of John tossing a gleeful Clementine onto a pile of pillows and we were able to show that to my mom. Caitlin had posted a video of Monica dancing. Another happy moment to share. While we all probably stay too closely attached to technology, it is also a great blessing during this pandemic.

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At 97 Mother gets to watch Clemmie & Ruth & Monica & Charles etc often and really enjoys that. I enjoy watching my mother watch my kids & grandkids & nieces & nephews almost as much as I enjoy watching the kids themselves!

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With almost everyone toting a video camera around 24/7 these days, we all can share a quick cheering few moments with our beloveds stuck at home often.

Comments:

Sandy Doughty Awesome

Ben Farnham This is the sweetest

Lillian Shaw I love you and miss you, Grandmother!

John Carlin

Terrell Shaw My grandbabies!

Sandra Pride They are growing like the flowers in the meadow.

Frank Norris Hey, Ruth!

Renata Carlin Those two are adorable! Happy Baptism Day, John.

Wendell W Barnes Jr Love my “Dr. Ruth”!

Charmaine Yoest Terry how is the best way to send her a video??

Deborah Shaw Lewis Charmaine Yoest Send it to me or Terry, or Joan.

Terrell Shaw Or you could upload them to a private FB page like "Charles and Ruth Shaw Family" page??

Duanne Walton Just awesome. Can't have too many photos or videos!!!!

Janet Behnke I don’t know that I could bear this strange new world without the plethora of technological ways to make connections and stay in touch.

Gleaning Facebook: The Secret Garden Finale

Today, Sunday February 7, 2016, is your last opportunity to see and hear this production of The Secret Garden. This is one of my very favorite musicals. I wish Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon had collaborated on much more. Their translation of this wonderful classic story into a stage musical is just magical. The words are poetic and the music -- at turns -- stirring, comic, ethereal, and majestic.

Please support bringing these kinds of classics to our community theater stage. Two of my friends who attended last evening reported being brought to tears. Now it IS community theater. You will not find perfection. At least not from ol' Ben Weatherstaff, the gruff but tender-hearted gardener that I get to inhabit one more time. But these players have volunteered a huge percentage of their waking hours outside of work and school for many weeks to bring you this show. Our stage crew, sound and light crew, production staff, and nine piece orchestra are focused on making sure you hear and see every note and every word intended (and as little unintended as possible!).

As a father iI will shamelessly brag that it is a very special privilege for me to share a stage again with one of my two talented daughters. Lillian IS a Yorkshire housemaid from her first entrance to final curtain. You Downton fans will recognise the type. "Martha"'s heart is as big as Lillian's and her voice will resound with humor and comfort (A Fine White Horse") in the first act, and with passionate encouragement for distraught "Mary" in the second ("Hold On")

This is not a show often attempted in community theater. The music is absolutely wonderful, but also difficult. Several of the characters must portray tortured souls, while trying to preserve the spark of humanity. I hope you will see an orphaned little girl and her frightened and emotionally abandoned cousin find new purpose and new life in a garden reborn from their friendship and the love of their Yorkshire servants. And two depressed, sad, selfish, angry brothers brought back from the brink of insanity by the love reborn in that garden.

Y'all come!

Andrew Bressette Really well put Terrell,

Victoria Stanz Abernathy You got wonderful reviews from our special visitor, Rachel Craw, this afternoon who loved to the point of tears during the whole performance last evening. I probably could drive after dark now if I had a trusted vehicle, but I was with you all in spirit. Bravissimo to you all!

Gleaning Facebook: Secret Garden

 You have one more weekend to see The Secret Garden. It’s an absolute beautiful musical play, gorgeously translated by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon from the classic children’s book to the stage. Ours is a community theater production and I don’t promise perfection. You will find the usual array of glitches, abilities and finesse. Even I (Ha!) have managed to flub a line here and there. But I assure you every cast member is doing his best to live his character; every crew member is working to make sure you see and hear everything you should and nothing you shouldn’t, every orchestra member is trying to express every note with beauty and precision. In short everyone involved will put 100% effort toward entertaining you. I think you will enjoy it.

Here I am with my favorite audience member to my right, and my favorite cast member to my left.

Rita Lawler It was wonderful!

Chris Goodwin My wife, daughter, and maw-in-law went on Sunday and loved it!

Joel Todino Will be there Friday night. Found a copy of the book in my library published in 1911!

Hilda Atkins Moore On Sunday I will be attending with friends, Lord willing...

Leigh Whittenburg Callan Whitney Callan and Avery Callan Hammonds are joining me for the Saturday evening performance. It's our favorite musical. Can't wait.

Laurie Craw Want to see y'all.

Claire Clowdus Great performance

Ann Allee McRay Great performance!

Marsha Yancey Atkins I'm looking forward to it!

Nancy Johal Singh Is this at the DeSoto?

Terrell Shaw Yep... y'all come.

Nancy Johal Singh Ok we will try 

I love the Secret Garden!

John Countryman You're looking more like Zorba the Greek every day!

Michael J. Burton We'll try

Lisette Lewis I cannot wait to see it this weekend!!

Gleaning Facebook: Backstage at Rehearsal

At Secret Garden reheasal. I have a small part (Ben Weatherstaff). Lillian has a nice part: Martha. She has a showstopper solo in the second act and another solo in the first act. Few outside of theatre realize the time commitment for a show like this gorgeous musical. And for most of us, those with minor roles, it means a lot of waiting. But I am watching a difficult scene/song/dance come together tonight (Come Spirit Come Charm). That's fun to see & hear.

Uh oh... I'm finally on.. bye.

Comments

Victoria Stanz Abernathy My favorite book. Those names bring back the happiest memories!

Leigh Whittenburg Callan Oh, Terrell! I'm so glad to hear about the rehearsals and CAN"T WAIT for the production. I love Ben's character and also Martha's. I know exactly what songs you are talking about. Whitney and I know every word. I'll try to get her to come. I don't think she's seen the show staged. I remember you as Uncle Archibald in times past.

Terrell Shaw I loved that role, Leigh. Granted it might be a bit much to cast me --- a VERY young 68 --- as Archie next to a twenty-something Lily, but it's hard to watch James Swendsen nailing "my part". The guy is good, doggone it. On Opening Night when Archie and Neville sing that wonderful duel of a duet, Lily's Eyes, I may step onto the stage and reveal that (ta-dah!) Ol' Ben also had a crush on Lily and make it a trio! (JK!!!!)

JJ Walker Seifert Aww. I played Martha in the Secret Garden in college - go Lillian!

Rita Lawler I saw this at the Fox many many years ago. Staging incredible. I played the music for months after.

Sheila Matthews Shaw We saw it at the Fox also. Lillian was 4, I think, Brannon was 9. We all loved it!

Andi Rouse Beyer I saw Secret Garden at the James theatre in March of 1992, Mandy Patinkin played Mary's Uncle. We can't wait to see it at RLT!

Carla Byram April - let's take B

April Jacobs Howell She would love it!

Freddie Ashley Love that show. "Lily's Eyes" is such a beautiful song. I think there's a Lincoln Center revival coming down the pike.