Early Thoughts....

I was struck today, during our 2nd day of rehearsals, how nice it is to be returning to this show...for a myriad of reasons. Of course, first off, it's fun. Secondly, it's a job. Third, Eric and Elisa are back, too....and are here to entertain me for countless hours during the day and I LOVE it....and them. Fourth, the new cast of friends...there are some REALLY funny ones, folks. Just you wait until you start meeting them. But even with all those reasons, there is one that is far and away the best reason of all for returning to this show...and I'd like to share it with you tonight: I don't have to learn how to do the puppets.

I sat in rehearsals today, and watched as all our newbies started taking their turns at the puppets....struggling with them along the way...and I flashed back to August 15th and 16th and 17th of last year...2005, for those keeping track...and I immediately remembered how difficult the puppets were for me right off the bat. AND how LOOOOOOONG it took me to become really comfortable with using them. Today while we were rehearsing, Graham (our esteemed director) even pointed out to me that he, also, remembered what a terrible time I had with them, at first, last year. Hands down, they were the most difficult part of learning the show for me. And it's one of those things in life that when it's something you want to do really well, and it is difficult, then it also starts to be frustrating. And after it starts to get frustrating, you start doubting yourself. And I'm here to tell you that a year ago, three or four days into it all, I was on my way home, stressing about the puppets, saying to myself, "WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO, ANDERSON!?" (It was THAT bad at first....) But in the end, it all worked itself out. I learned the way of the puppets, and I become comfortable with the manipulation of them. And to this day, they are my favorite part of the show.

So today I stood and watched as my fellow castmates started on that journey of becoming ONE with their puppets. I saw the frustration....and the struggle...and the doubt...and my heart went out to them...but I also had to laugh a little bit on the inside. I mean, brutal or not, it was nice to NOT be the one struggling with the puppets arms and heads and legs and stuff. I wasn't "THAT" guy today. It was nice to be able to look at those new, fresh-faced puppeteers and be able to say to them, with the highest level of confidence, "Patience, grasshopper. It will come to you in time. And if it doesn't...eh. So what. You can be replaced."

Just kidding. I'd never call anyone 'grasshopper'.