A Return to the Stage - It's a Wonderful Life at WCC

Hey everyone. I know I haven’t been as consistent at the end of this year with posting about movies. I plan to get back to that, but I wanted to say a little bit about what I’ve been up to. Sometimes I treat this film blog as more than that – and why shouldn’t I? It’s a forum for my thoughts that few people have – which is why you occasionally get more personal posts like my one on Stephen King coming to town.
​
That’s a bit like what I’m bringing you today. I recently got a chance to appear in Wentzville Christian Church’s dinner theatre production of It’s a Wonderful Life. And you know what? It was wonderful – I had so very much forgotten the rush of appearing on a stage with a room full of people watching, the thrill of the bow at the end, and the high that’s received when a whole room laughs at your antics. It’s a bit like writing, sure, but it’s far more interactive. It feeds a part of my personality that is equal parts “LOOK AT ME” and “Please don’t hate me” that springs out of being an extremely shy kid with some self-esteem issues. 

Pictured - me 15 minutes apart.

God has blessed me in many ways, and the love of characters is one of them. It’s something I continually bring up in different film reviews – when I feel connected to a character, the movie just seems to spring to life off the screen. In the same way, theatre, when done well, is bringing that character to life. And for me, becoming another character, whether for a few moments by doing an accented voice, or a few minutes by appearing in a play, is one of those things that buoys me up. It’s not that I don’t like myself (ego much David?), but it’s just so much fun to play around with the elasticity of what makes you, well, you. That may only make sense to some of you, but those that understand the plasticity of personality will be fully in line with that comment.
​
I’d like to highlight some people, and indeed, I even started to do so, name by name, but I quickly realized not a single moment of the show would have been the same had God not given us the group of people he did for that show. There’s something about a show, particularly this one, that brings people together as a family – whether it’s people eating all my Sour Patch (!!!), a vicious bank scene (that only got more vicious with each passing moment), me barreling Gennifer through backstage, Caleb messing with the carolers (“Silent Night, Holy Night, Aw that sounds beautiful”), or me ripping my pants apart on stage, there was something to each and every moment that helped bring us further together – by the way, I can’t believe I just said that my pants ripping brought people together. I’m digressing HARD from the point of this.

And let me open up here – because I can be overly emotional at times and slightly dramatic – I’m going to miss our little show family. It’ll be nice to have the time back – those four hours Sundays were LONG - but our little cast and crew is important to me. So don’t be a stranger, reach out! I’m fond of hugs, movies, and Sour Patch. Until then, I’ll see you at the next show.

BTW – thanks once again to Tammy and Chad for letting me be a part of this. It’s “an answer to a prayer I had a little bit ago”.
​
God bless everyone, and Merry Christmas.