A Passion to Play

When we moved to Laguna a couple of years ago, I thought to myself ‘this is the place where I will return to my true love--the theater.’ Ever since I played Emily in my high school’s production of "Our Town," I was smitten. I acted in a couple of plays in college, but ended up working in the film business as a writer and director. So when I saw a casting call titled “Girl Shortage” in the May 26th "Independent," my interest was piqued:

“The Pageant of the Masters is seeking females age 18 to 35, 5'-3" to 5'-8 willing to volunteer for this summer's show, July 7 through Sept. 1. Partial nudity is required. Five roles have yet to be cast, including an ornament from a 1930s perfume bottle.”

I examined the text carefully and figured I could pass for a 5’ 5”, 35 year old. My brain skipped over the words “volunteer,” and headed straight for “partial nudity.” Could I actually be nude on stage? That was something I had never contemplated.

I picked up the phone to call Renata. “Is it possible for me to get a tummy tuck and boob lift by tomorrow?”

Renata paused for a moment. “I am going to revive my acting career and be in the Pageant of the Masters,” I explained.

“And the reason for the emergency boob lift?” Renata asked.

“I’m going to be a perfume bottle ornament. I need to have nice breasts and a flat stomach.” The thing I love about Renata is that she understood immediately. She knew the Pageant Casting Directors were not looking for a post-partum pooch perfume bottle topper.

“My walk-in clinic in Dana Point gives me Botox. Maybe they can help you out. Let me make a few calls.”

While Renata was tapping the plastic surgery phone tree, I read the ad again. Volunteering for two months could be a problem and possibly incite a world war at home. No home cooked meals, story time or bedtime cuddles would not be a good thing.

I called Renata back. “Don’t bother. I’m too young for this gig.”

“I thought you were too old?”

“No, I am too young of a mom. The kids are too little, the husband working too hard for this to happen.”

I told my husband about my failed debut. “You don’t even wear perfume,” he replied.

You can understand why I invited Renata and not my husband to accompany me to this year’s show entitled "A Passion for Art." We decided to dress up and make a special night out it. Before the show, we sipped pineapple cosmos at the Sundried Tomato Café and tried to not talk about our kids. We were out for the Art.

When the Trevi Fountain appeared on stage, I almost burst into tears, so overwhelmed by its beauty. I wanted to leave my seat to throw three coins in the fountain, but they moved onto Jean Beraud’s "La Patisseries Gloppe on the Champs-Elysee" and all I could think about was getting a chocolate cookie from the lobby. My next favorite tableau was Atkinson Grimshaw’s "Elaine", an illimuniscent painting that portrays a woman who died of unrequited love. By the time Sir William Quiller Orchardson’s "The Marriage of Convenience" came up, I was completely depressed about the state of love and marriage.

When voila! My 1930’s Czechoslovakian Perfume Bottle girl arrived in absolute splendor. Forget partial nudity, she was completely naked! But that thought came and went. I could only revel in the magic that makes the Pageant of the Masters so unique and fabulously fun. I didn’t want Perfume Girl to leave the stage—I wanted to gaze at her for hours. Was there really a person in there? How did she maintain such a perfect arc and composure? Would she flinch and remind me that she was a woman just like me?

As we were leaving, Renata asked, “Are you sure the cast members are volunteers? That is a lot of work to do without any pay or credit.”

“I guess they do it out of love.” We looked at each other and started to laugh.

Sounds a whole lot like our daily drama entitled "Motherhood."