Tonight however, I actually deserved it. I was doing a show called "Forever Plaid". This is a show with four performers, and four techs (light, sound, spot, and backstage). I am the backstage tech for this show. In this show I operate the fog (for which I have recieved much acclaim, I have even made an actor once gasp for air it was so thick), I also operate several drop in lights, and a tree.

That's right dammit, a tree! During a song (matilda), we go calipso. The palm tree starts to dance. That's me. The tree has a top, but the trunk is actually a vinyl dryer vent painted to be a tree trunk. The whole thing sits in a big bucket on stage for an hour lifeless until the song. It is like a snake charmer thing.

The theater has been doing this production for ten years. I am apparently the first person that has done more than just move it up and down.

As a musician, I understand rythym. I am dancing and jumping to this thing. I have more fun than anyone. On monday, I recieved major kudos from the owner himself. He never saw anything like it. Everyone always wants to know who the tree guy is.

So after the show, when the actors did thier bows and started to leave, I go out on stage, to get props moved and reset. By then everyone is always halfway out. However, they stayed put in thier seats until I walked out an then they all started clapping and stood up. At first I thought I missed something, and maybe they were clapping for the pianist. I quicked looked at him and his eyes said it all, that this was in fact for me this time.

I quick looked at them, gave a thankful nod, and went along. I almost bowed, as is what I would normally do, but this felt wierd! But I loved it nonetheless. I had people stopping to talk to me and shake my hand.

Never has the plant upstaged the quartet. However, as my father would put it, I am a ham, and eat up the limelight.

I am auditioning in the morning for the part of Jacob Marley, wish me luck.

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