Tonight I had the pleasure of creating a birthday dinner for my sister-in-law. A few days ago, I asked her what she would like for her special night. For the main dinner, nothing seemed to come to mind. However, for a side dish she asked for potato latkes. Being of Jewish decent, every once in a while she will throw something out there for me to cook. I immediately agreed to that for her. She has done so much for my wife over the last 20 years, I could not turn down such a simple request. Potato latkes it would be.
I stood frying the little patties of potatoes. Quite often while cooking, I allow my mind to wander. I couldn’t help but smile as I fried. I have never made these before, and yet, they hold a great memory for me. Internally I had a laugh. This memory then led me down the road of so many more. Somehow this little recipe took me down the path of my old theater days and the bloopers that happened.
Potato pancakes remind me of Fiddler on the Roof. I performed in the show while a member of the Niagara Falls Little Theater back in the 80s. One evening, the young man who played Motel confided in me that there was a scene in the play that he just detested. The scene had two women talking on stage and he interrupted looking for the daughter of one. He felt that the scene had little use in the play. I tried to get him to understand that the scene had nothing to do with his character, but it moved the story line. He just laughed and insisted it was a bad scene.
Later, during the evening performance, he was in the green room playing cards. I can remember being in the wings watching that very scene. His cue came. His cue went. No Motel appeared. He was still playing cards. The two ladies, Golde and Yente, looked at each other. I am sure the pause was a split second, but standing in the wings, I thought I could hear minutes tick by. The quickly spoke a few lines bringing the play back around to his cue. Nothing. A few of us in the wings tried to think of something. One person even started for the door. Then we heard Golde mention that she would soon have to get dinner prepared. Yente asked what she was going to make. “Ah, you know,” in a deep Jewish accent, “I will make some bread, some potato pancakes.”
“Oh. I love your potato pancakes. How do you get them to taste so good?” Yente questioned.
Golde started giving a recipe for potato pancakes. It sounded so good, I wanted to write it down. Finally, she mentioned something about milk or something and Yente came back with, “Oh speaking of that I saw Motel with your daughter.” The play was back on track.
Live theater is great to watch, but it is even more exciting to be part of the action on stage – hoping that all the lines and props work as expected. It is even better when things go wrong and you have to think on your feet to stay on track.
I think the first blooper that comes to my mind deals with junior high. We were doing a murder mystery. We told all the actors to leave the props alone. One young man was adamant that he would take care of his own props. This include a prop pistol with blanks. Sure enough the whole reason we asked people to leave props alone came true. The climax came. The murderer was on stage. The lights were dimmed (it was night). The victim with his back to the door was totally unaware that anyone had entered the room. The gun was drawn. The audience sat on the edge of seats. A thunder clap happened. The trigger was pulled back and we all heard – click. Click. Click. Click. Then the murderer yelled bang. The body fell over.
Phones also offer a problem when it comes to them ringing on cue. I sat on stage in a different play. The heat of the moment was to be broken by the ringing of the telephone. The moment came and ……. Silence. We started the conversation and brought the topic back to the line that should prompt a phone ringing – silence. On the third try and no phone, the person opposite me looked at the group and asked, “Did I just hear the phone ring?” It was all I could do to not burst out laughing – I think the audience did. Just the same – it worked. The girl picked up the phone and the show went on.
The last share comes from my time in England. I had the privilege of being part of a British Panto. If you have never heard of a Panto, let me explain. They are a tradition during the holidays over in England. You take a children’s fairy tale and add modern music. To add to it, the hero is a male character played by a girl and there is at least one female character played by a male in drag. Cinderella would have the ugly step-sisters as men in drag. Our play was Snow White. I played the Royal Housekeeper – I looked beautiful. The difference with a Panto is that actors often break the fourth wall and talk to the audience. These are supposed to be for the family, but it really is all about the kids.
During this particular run, we had two incidents happen that surprised us. The children are told at the beginning that it is acceptable – wanted – for them to cheer and boo throughout based on which character enters. The Queen always got the best reactions. Sometimes a little more than boos. One evening the kids were really into not liking the Queen. She had just finished singing a nice song, the theater quieted after the applause. She walked toward center stage preparing for her next line when out of the dark came, “You’re ugly.” A little boy decided he really didn’t like the Queen. The funny thing is that well dressed as the Queen, the actress was a beautiful person. She ignored him. He yelled again.
The Queen spun around lowering herself and pointing in the direction of the voice and responded, “You’re not such a looker yourself.”
The boy threw back a “I’m not afraid of you.”
The Queen kicked back, “You – me in the parking lot during intermission.” With that she straightened up and adjusted her dress and went on with the play.
During the same run of the show, we gained a dwarf. We always allowed the younger members of the audience to sit up front for the best views. This also allowed us to be able to talk with them and interact. It meant that we also would pass through them or close by when exiting or entering the stage. I believe it was our last evening. The Queen was giving instructions to the Woodsman on getting rid of Snow White. What nobody noticed is that a little member of the audience – perhaps 4 or so had been watching the dwarfs – played by kids. I guess he decided he wanted to be a dwarf. He quietly crept to the side and up the steps. I think that he was confused when he got backstage and couldn’t find the Dwarfs who had moved to the dressing rooms. So, the little guy did the next best thing – he moved toward the lights. The Woodsman turned to the Queen to plead letting Snow White live. She turned down his request. He turned to leave and found that next to him on stage was this child. He looked back to the Queen and asked if this apprentice could help. She replied, “I don’t care just get him and Snow White out of my sight.” The Woodsman held out his hand to be met with a tiny hand. The two went off together to kill Snow White.
All of these memories and so many more came to me today because I fried up some potatoes. I just never know what is going to strike up a memory and where I will go.
So with that, a Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law and a thank you for meandering with me tonight.