Great Run for Scrooge!

Pictured here is a photo of the Cratchit Family from the dress rehearsal of Harding's recent Homecoming production of Scrooge. As I mentioned earlier, Ian played "Peter Cratchit", Tiny Tim's big brother. The director and production worked very hard not to use up the kids, it was still an exhausting run for the nine children in the cast. Four of the children happened to be in Ian's class so they were all tired on the same days. The play was such a hit that Dr. Burks asked Robin Miller to present it at the meeting of the University Presidents that would be on campus November 8. All the Searcy community were also invited and there was no charge for tickets. It was a great performance and a great way to end the run. One of Ian's highlights was that his dear friend Courtney got to be in the final performance. She was originally in the cast and then became ill and was unable to perform in the Homecoming presentations. Ian can now say that he was in a production with Courtney Wood.

He is still struggling to catch up with school work he missed while he was ill, and the late nights associated with Scrooge didn't help.

Swine Flu and Pneumonia

Ian is recovering from the flu and pneumonia. He only missed a week of school but that is always a very big problem for him. He was able to get back to school this past Monday but has still not caught up with the rest of the class. He should have it well under control by the beginning of next week.

Scrooge is going well. He has had such a good time but the rehearsals have been exhausting. It is all over this weekend, but he is certainly going to have a rough week with all the late rehearsals. Both of his grandmothers are coming to see it Saturday night and he is very excited about that. I will post some pictures as soon as I get them.

You Can't Take It With You

The play is now history, but it was really fun. I must admit that I enjoyed this cast and my time with all of them more than I have any play in recent years. All were great to work. Sally did a great job directing all fourteen of the cast. Her task was difficult due to limited resources, but she did well. Nancy is GREAT in any role she takes on.

Ian is really enjoying his part in Scrooge. Both grandmothers are coming to see him. It should be a great homecoming.

Is there a "GREAT" theme going here?

Where Does the Time Go?

I remember my Great-Grandmother saying that we had so little time to live our lives and that I needed to use it wisely. That was so hard for me to understand since I was always looking forward to something. I wanted to skip all the boring times and get right to Christmas, or my birthday, or Camp. I now understand what she meant. How do I get done everything I need to do from day to day?

Ian is loving rehearsing for Scrooge. Right now he has a rehearsal about three times a week, but I'm sure that will change as it looms closer. You Can't Take It With You went well this past weekend. The Thursday night dress-rehearsal was rough but the Friday and Saturday performances were to very large crowds. I enjoyed several days off from rehearsals but we have another performance tonight. I certainly hope everyone reviewed their lines.

Theatre Central

There is a lot of "high drama" at the Tullos household at the present time. I am currently playing Paul Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You at the Center on the Square here in Searcy. We open this Thursday night and run for the next several weeks. Not only do I have to run around the stage in my boxers, I have to do it without my glasses. I'm afraid I am going to traumatize some little ole lady by falling into her lap. It has been fun, but exhausting with the new graduate semester beginning and helping my Mom.

The important dramatic announcement involves Ian. He tried out (along with 80 other children) for the 8 or so children's roles in Scrooge, the musical based on Dickens A Christmas Carol. He made the first set of callbacks, and then was asked to return for an additional callback. There was "extreme" competition for the role of Tiny Tim. Unfortunately, when all was said and done, he did not win that role, but was cast as Peter Cratchit. He is so excited. I am so happy for him. I am disappointed only in the fact that he was called back and I realize that he was being considered for that major role and didn't make it. He was beat out by a second grade girl. Everyone who saw the audition felt that they were so matched for it. I, of course, could not watch the audition and sat out in the lobby until it was over.

Home at Last

It has been a wonderful two weeks, but I'm glad to be home. We pulled into the driveway around noon today. Friday morning, we headed out to Yorktown so Ian could see the last major battle site of the American Revolution. For those that have been following this blog, it was also where Major Isaac Hite, Jr. helped write the Articles of Capitulation setting the terms of surrender for Lord Cornwallis. It was a fitting end to our Isaac Hite adventures. This took awhile and we arrived back in Williamsburg around lunch. The afternoon was spent driving back down the James River Road to Berkley Plantation, the home of William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the U.S. Ian was assigned Harrison as a school project several years ago and wanted to see his home. I liked this photo of Ian standing at Harrison's Landing looking out over the James River.

We left Richmond area around 6:00 and headed for I81. We made it to Wytheville around 12:00 and collapsed into bed. Early Saturday morning, I got up and wondered to the site where Durham's Restaurant used to be. I had many memories of a dear friend who showed me this area and a trip was not complete without country ham biscuits from Durham's. There is a Rite Aid there now. It just seemed WRONG!

I just thought we were headed for home. We made it to Abingdon and decided to take in the Virginia Highlands Festival. It was the best juried art and craft show that I've ever seen. I also explored the Barter Theatre, a memory from theatre classes. Needless to say we had to spend Saturday night on the road as well.

History Comes Alive

Today was our Jamestown and Yorktown days, but things didn't go as planned. We headed off to Jamestown early and really enjoyed our visit there. So much has been discovered since Keri and I visited and there is a new museum to view the discoveries. Ian took advantage of every tour and display. Afterwards, we decided to take the ferry (Jamestown-Scotland Ferry) across the James and drive down to Surry and Smithfield to see the home of "country ham". We ate lunch at Surrey House Restaurant, a highly recommended local restaurant. The local crab cake sandwich certainly lived up to expectations.

From there, we headed off to find St. Luke's Church, the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and the nation's only surviving Gothic building. One of Keri's ancestors was the rector there in the early 1600s, shortly after it was built. There is a plaque to him in the church. It really was a beautiful place. We have been seeing all kinds of reenactments these last several days, but going in this church made it all come alive. We ended up spending so much time there that we missed Yorktown. Perhaps we will try getting there on our way out of town.

We stopped by the famous Edwards Ham center on our way back through Surry. Edwards ham is a Christmas breakfast tradition for as long as I can remember.