tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post2780458259294165293..comments2024-03-28T18:40:05.789-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: The Show Must Go On by Paula Gail BensonJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-32457301785086797052016-01-21T09:58:50.740-05:002016-01-21T09:58:50.740-05:00I enjoyed your post, Paula. Like others, I think i...I enjoyed your post, Paula. Like others, I think it's wonderful that you persevered despite all the challenges you encountered and all the sorrows your community and your state endured. I haven't performed in a stage production in decades, but when I taught Sunday school, my students loved writing and performing plays and skits, usually in connection with a holiday. The most memorable was probably a Passover play my middle-school class wrote and performed entirely in Hebrew. As you might imagine, it was a VERY short play with very simple dialogue. At an all-school assembly, the students performed the play twice--the first time with only the Hebrew, the second time with a younger student holding up sheets of poster board with English sub-titles. It was a lot of fun.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12585743721196806742016-01-20T21:35:13.557-05:002016-01-20T21:35:13.557-05:00You came through, Paula! How wonderful. I knew you...You came through, Paula! How wonderful. I knew you could do it! It sure has been a rough year for your area. Glad your friend recognized how much they would need this. It's interesting, and I think unusual, that you have more men actors than women. But you worked with this and, voila, there was your production!<br /><br />I've only been in pit orchestras, never on the stage, thank goodness!<br /><br />Oh, I did write a script for a Lenten progression thing, but the idea was someone else's. The concept was very well received. <br />Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-44332769233623116762016-01-20T10:03:16.167-05:002016-01-20T10:03:16.167-05:00Oh,my goodness..that is wonderful! And gorgeous, a...Oh,my goodness..that is wonderful! And gorgeous, and inspirational. Thank you, dear PAula--for this wonderfully heartfelt moment of realizing how magical our lives are. xoxoHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-65778377783666676562016-01-20T08:39:16.197-05:002016-01-20T08:39:16.197-05:00Loved this post, Paula. There is nothing like the ...Loved this post, Paula. There is nothing like the excitement that flows between the performer and audience during a live show. Knowing all the chaos going on backstage, while trying to keep it together onstage , always gives me an adrenaline rush. By the way, is there any chance your production was videotaped and loaded to YouTube? I'd really love to see it.Diana Belchasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10131660669461707246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82663867165256983212016-01-19T19:48:32.303-05:002016-01-19T19:48:32.303-05:00Thank you, Warren. You're right. Crafting perf...Thank you, Warren. You're right. Crafting performance comedy is very different from writing short stories and novels. Sounds like you had a good experience. Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-31472698220724188982016-01-19T18:39:36.139-05:002016-01-19T18:39:36.139-05:00I have also written a skit and a standup comedy ro...I have also written a skit and a standup comedy routine for a church fundraiser. It is always hectic but gratifying. I didn't perform in the skit but I did the routine, which went over very well. It is a very different form of writing. I'm glad you had such success.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-39944630069802762412016-01-19T17:50:19.508-05:002016-01-19T17:50:19.508-05:00Thanks, Jim. You're right. Consistency can pro...Thanks, Jim. You're right. Consistency can provide comfort.<br /><br />What kind words, Gloria. You would truly love participating in community theatre. It offers a wonderful camaraderie.<br /><br />E.B., it was crazy, but fun. I love hearing how you find your muse on the beach. I live vicariously through your Outer Banks stories!<br /><br />Vicki, I love the premise, too. I think this story truly resonated with people. One of the nicest compliments I received was that the play and its message would be appropriate for many church settings.<br /><br />Dear Disney Studios, there were four people back there working the lights and sound. I was the one operating "Big Bertha" our monster spotlight. Let's talk!<br /><br />Kait, I love the description of your costume. How wonderful to present the productions to the young folks. It's great to see appreciation for plays in the eyes of children.<br /><br />K.M., thank you. It was very satisfying. I've developed deep friendships and appreciated people encouraging and supporting my writing.<br /><br />Shari, I can imagine you in a swirling kilt! What fun! You must show me a picture sometime! Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82892903412811088442016-01-19T15:13:55.768-05:002016-01-19T15:13:55.768-05:00Hi Paula,
Love that photo of you!
A million years...Hi Paula,<br />Love that photo of you! <br />A million years ago I danced in many ballet recitals and in high school musicals. What fun! I especially remember Brigadoon, where had a wonderful, swirling kilt. <br />I remain happily amazed by your creativity!Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-15318440573366967532016-01-19T14:45:29.951-05:002016-01-19T14:45:29.951-05:00What fun, Paula! I admire your ability to put some...What fun, Paula! I admire your ability to put something like this together, much less at the busiest time of year. I bet everyone appreciates your hard work, and I hope you get a great deal of satisfaction out of the entire venture.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34226101941852923072016-01-19T13:46:06.496-05:002016-01-19T13:46:06.496-05:00How delightful. Wish I lived closer - would have l...How delightful. Wish I lived closer - would have loved to have attended! I too used to participate in our Church plays. We had two cats that the Church had adopted when they were abandoned on our property,Sam and Sylvia, I played Sam on a regular basis. It was great fun, especially the first time. Sam had one eye, he was lithe and jet black. I played him while dressed in my black SCUBA diving skin (rather more clingy than I would have selected for a church appearance) with a patch over one eye, gold lame ears (all I could find) and a crocheted very long tail. The first appearance looks were, shall we say, priceless. The kids loved it, and the plays were usually geared towards the kids, kindness to animals, and respect for all no matter, race, color, creed, or species!Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-7567884880725751872016-01-19T13:06:37.128-05:002016-01-19T13:06:37.128-05:00Paula,
Your Producer, Lighting amd Sound engineer...Paula,<br /> Your Producer, Lighting amd Sound engineer were Outstanding! Are they for hire?<br /><br />Disney Studios<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24793997327862558952016-01-19T12:25:08.818-05:002016-01-19T12:25:08.818-05:00Wonderful, wonderful! I love the whole premise of ...Wonderful, wonderful! I love the whole premise of the groundskeepers putting on the Christmas play. Well done!Vicki Batman, sassy writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846704675542248648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79918634964470188842016-01-19T11:42:23.544-05:002016-01-19T11:42:23.544-05:00I can't believe you have time to create a new ...I can't believe you have time to create a new play during the season. Outside of school chorus, I've never performed. I don't do well at being the center of attention so I don't think it would help my creativity, but if it works for you--I'm glad. It appears to have been successful and fun. Kudos to you!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-26142070183676379382016-01-19T11:35:03.310-05:002016-01-19T11:35:03.310-05:00Paula, what a wonderful story you just told. You a...Paula, what a wonderful story you just told. You are truly gifted in more ways than one. I had a few walk on parts in high school plays and once when I was still in high school, five friends and I performed a dance in a community wide production on stage. We each represented a different country with our costumes. I have no memory of the song or anything except my dad laughing at our skinny legs. <br /><br />I always thought I'd like to be part of a community theater after I retired because I love plays put on by dedicated but unprofessional actors. However, once I retired I became too involved in other things to give up all the time it takes to take part in preparing for any performance even just working on the settings. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34165086758894995912016-01-19T06:36:55.801-05:002016-01-19T06:36:55.801-05:00I suspect your friend was wise indeed in insisting...I suspect your friend was wise indeed in insisting the “show must go on.” In times of turmoil, items of consistency have even more meaning. Well done.<br /><br />And nice smile in that last picture -- enjoying life is a great thing!<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com