Into the Woods

Ah—the smell of gingerbread all through the house when the holidays are approaching and your mom, aunts or grandmothers are busily baking and decorating those delicious delights! Just makes a person feel all warm and fuzzy inside, right? That's how it would normally make a person feel inside, but not so much where my story is concerned.

I love the story of Hansel and Gretel and how they overcame all the obstacles that try to destroy them—literally! So, when the play “Hansel and Gretel” was going to be performed by the second-grade class at my school... Yeah! Maybe “shy little ole me” might have a shot at a part in this play. Of course, if anyone would look at me my face would turn beet-red so how in the world could I ever expect to get a part in this sweet production? I would never speak in public and wasn't that a prerequisite for participating in a play?

The production team decided that they would hand-pick the kids that would get these rolls—not audition for them. I guess they felt confident that they could choose the best kids for those speaking roles and since I didn't speak... You see where this is going.

The big day came! We were to find out what part we were given... If any.

Hansel will be performed by...

Gretel will be performed by...

The Witch...

The Mom...

The voice announcing the roles was becoming more and more faint as it trailed off into the distance. Nothing. I thought, “What do you expect? You don't speak!?”

Huh?

Did I hear my name? Did I really hear my name? Must be a mistake. I didn't think there were any parts left to assign.

And then it was announced.

But it really was my name. I was an Angel... Along with 13 other Angels. It wasn't much of a part but... I didn't have to speak. I think the production team may have known what they were doing. NON-SPEAKING ROLE FOR A NON-SPEAKING CHILD! Hallelujah... Perfect! Not only did I not have to speak but I could get lost in the crowd. I could handle this.

The big night came. All of us Angels were dressed in beautiful long white gowns that our moms had constructed and beautiful silver tinsel halos. We were all backstage preparing ourselves - getting into costume, applying makeup, styling hair—when out of the blue a little girl with long blonde hair belted out: “She can't be an angel! Angels have blonde hair! She has brown hair”!

I froze. Everyone was looking at me like this “bad seed” was correct. “How could SHE be an angel?”

I didn't say a word but I could feel my face glow crimson. My mom continued combing my brown hair getting ready as she assured me that the angels have all different colors of hair so it was perfectly okay for me to be an angel... All the while in the back of my head I'm thinking, “I'm not worthy to be an angel. Angels have blonde hair.”

Time for my big entrance. Remember I said earlier that I thought I'd be okay cause I could get lost in the crowd? Nope! Didn't happen that way.

When at night I go to sleep

14 Angels watch do keep

Two my head are guarding

Two my feet are guiding

Two upon my right hand

Two upon my left hand

Two who warmly cover

Two who o’er me hover

Two whom tis given

To guide my steps to Heaven.

You see, each angel came, and separately. Oh, my goodness. Not by myself. Each of us entered through the forests and surrounded the sleeping Hansel and Gretel just like the poem said.

My turn came I to enter through the trees and off I go...

Through the trees...

With large wings and just when I think I have managed to maneuver those large wings through the forest... I'm caught! In a tree.

My wing... Is caught... In a tree... My wing is caught in a tree!

I looked out at the audience staring up at me. Oh no! I'm going to be here forever. Stuck in this tree. We were instructed on how to hold our hands so I knew I could not unclasp them to help release my wing. I could feel my face turn beet red. We started wiggling and wiggling and wiggling and all of a sudden after what seemed like an eternity... my wing was free! So finally, I was on my way to my position on the right hand. I planted myself firmly. Whew! I’d made it!

And before I knew it, it was over—my debut of my non-speaking role by me, a non-speaking child. One would think that a walk-on, non-speaking role would encounter absolutely no problems, right?

Stress of being a performer.

No matter how minor the role may be, problems can occur.

When the tale of Hansel and Gretel almost destroyed me, I thought maybe acting was not for me. But, what does a seven-year-old really know about all of this? I know the production was very stressful for me and even though I made it through it, I was going to have to think long and hard before accepting another acting role. Maybe when I'm much older?

So, when the sweet smells of gingerbread permeate my home, guess what I think of?

~ Jeannie Joyner