More Linear Narrative, Anyway

Yes, she's a little sick of herself, but she's also a slave to Story. And here's one!

The Children's Theater is the Mother Ship -- not just locally, but this boat trails national stature. And all the little theater creatures the Matron knows, these talented and determined children (including hers) want in! They want to go aboard.

"Take me home! Take me home!" Think ET. Only less adorable.

You see, they're not normal, these children. They are aliens among us, more comfortable onstage than off. Most children watch The Sound of Music for the first time, enjoy the show, and move on with their lives. Scarlett promptly changed her name to Louisa and never looked back.

The competition for The Children's Theater is steamy and dark-- and some of the parents? Not all of them live on this planet (or deserve to). the matron still gets weepy if she revisits that scene

Scarlett has clawed at this impenetrable bastion three times, the third and latest on Saturday, when she was one of the last two Ramona the Pests standing at the three hour callback (thank you, Stage Father, for that one).

Of course, when the Matron picked up her child at school for the initial Thursday audition, Scarlett was all: "Do I have to?"

Matron: "Of course not. We can just go home. It's totally up to you."

Scarlett: "I don't know. I want to watch Malcolm in the Middle. What should I do?"

Matron: "This is totally up to you. I can't decide. We can be in front of the TV in 15 minutes or on the road to The Children's Theater."

Scarlett: "If we get in the car and go, like two minutes, and I change my mind, can we turn around and go home? I almost called you at lunch time to say I wasn't interested."

Matron: "Yes! But if we go more than two minutes, we're committed. I'm not driving to Minneapolis and turning around."

Scarlett: "Okay."

There were several "are you okay, do you want to keep goings" in the van, all of which were met with "uh-huh" from Scarlett, who was engrossed in - guess what book! Beezus and Ramona! While singing totally inappropriate songs about sex from Rent.

When they crossed that border into the real city, the Matron said, "We're in Minneapolis."

Scarlett: "Fine. I'll go, then."

She had the 3rd audition spot out of hundreds and was in and out, zip quick, within one hour. Yes, that's zip quick in some worlds.

Saturday, she had a three hour callback, during which Scarlett and her main competitor did many readings with many other potential cast members, sort of to get all the angles. Sometime during this process, she decided she wanted this role.

When the Matron tucked her in that night, Scarlett said: "Mama! Wouldn't it be GREAT to be Ramona Quimby in a show called Ramona Quimby? And at The Children's Theater! I hope I get it!"

Monday night, when the Matron picked up Scarlett from Sound of Music rehearsals, the first thing out of that child's mouth: "Did they call yet?"

She knew who. Alas, there was no happy phone call on Monday. It has been the Matron's considerable experience that good news is nearly immediate.

But Tuesday night at 8:30 pm, Scarlett boarded that Mother Ship. Yes! The Children's Theater called and Scarlett is Ramona Quimby IN Ramona Quimby, this spring.

And Stage Mother has been handed endless blog fodder. Thanks, Ramona!

But Stage Mother admits to wobbling a bit on her high heels -- she's just dazed by the family schedule ahead!