Not Just for Kids

  Color
 Vol. 10, No. 20

May 16-22, 2002

     
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The von Trapps are a big family. Find Andrew fourth from right, and Chris second from right.
It’s the Actor’s Life
by April Falcon Doss

Andrew Gordon of Crofton and Chris Scruggs of Davidsonville get to skip school, stay out late, and hear audiences clap for them every other weekend. They sing, they dance, they act. Elementary school students, they’re two of 13 kids in the cast in the musical play The Sound of Music at Chesapeake Music Hall.

After a recent performance, they talked to Bay Weekly about the actor’s life.

Q How did you get interested in acting?

A Chris: I saw The Wizard of Oz here and thought it looked like fun, so I wanted to try out for a show.

Andrew: Me, too. I saw Little Shop of Horrors and wanted to try to do one.

QWere you excited when you found out you’d been picked for the cast?

A Chris: Oh, yeah! My sister told me and I was jumping up and down and my dog was running between my legs. I was so excited!

Andrew: My mom told me there was a message that I was in the play. I couldn’t believe it!

Q How long did you rehearse?

A Andrew: Since late February, I think.

Chris: There’s no more rehearsals now [that the show has started], unless something really bad happens! Which it hasn’t yet.

QHow often do you perform?

A Chris: It’s a split cast [with two kids playing each role, so they take turns performing]. We’ll each do 23 or 24 shows.

Laura Gordon [Andrew’s Mom]: Each cast performs on alternating weekends, and the show runs through the end of June.

Q What’s the hardest part about performing in The Sound of Music?

A Andrew: The late nights. Sometimes we’re not done with rehearsal or a performance until midnight, and then you have to get up the next day.

Chris:
When somebody hits a wrong note and you have to pretend not to notice.

Q What’s the best part?

A Andrew: Getting to do our thing, being on stage in front of all the people.

Chris: Definitely, getting to perform.

Andrew: Plus you make new friends.

Chris:
And when we do a matinee show on Wednesday, then we get to skip school. But then we have to make up the work, and that’s not so much fun.

Q Will you act again?

A Chris and Andrew: Definitely!

Chris:
Oh, yeah — and we even get paid!


How to Make a Marionette:

In The Sound of Music, the children put on a puppet show with marionettes, puppets whose arms and legs are attached to strings that make them move.

To make your own marionette at home, you’ll need: 2 popsicle sticks, string, glue, tape, 1 old sock, tissue paper, magic markers, scissors, and 4 pipe cleaners.

1. Put the two popsicle sticks together in the shape of an X. Use the glue or tape (or both) to hold them together.

2. Tie two granny knots in the sock, one at the tip near the toe. Then stuff the sock with tissue paper (or cloth or paper towels), and tie another knot near the opening.

3. Use the magic markers to draw a face on the sock above the knot near the toe.

4. Use the scissors to cut four small holes in the sock between the two knots, two near the bottom and two near the top.

5. Put one pipe cleaner through each hole, and twist the end of the pipe cleaner so that it stays in place. Now your marionette has arms and legs.

6. Tie a piece of string to the long end of each pipe cleaner for the marionette’s hands and feet.
7. Attach the other end of each string to one of the tips of the X you made with popsicle sticks.

8. Now, pick up your popsicle stick X. By tilting it from side to side, you can make the hands and feet of your marionette move.


Kids’ Day at Jug Bay
Saturday, May 18

Kidsinger Jim Hossick highlights Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary’s annual day of fun for kids w/nature and art.

On the nature side, Children’s Day promises hayrides, nature walks, live animals and games. Parents will get an eyeful, too, of the Sanctuary’s new protected lands. 11am-1pm @ Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, off Rt. 258 at Rt. 4, Lothian. Free: 410/741-9330.


Copyright 2002
Bay Weekly