Adventures with a Queen- Part 4 (Epilogue)

So for the final show we were told that Chris would be attending.  Drew had videoed most of the shows (including the queen's train wreck), but we were very glad that Chris would be able to see it in person.  All throughout the entire process we had Chris in our hearts.  We wanted the show to be good- for HIM.  Really, we were thrilled to have him there.

And it was the best show of them all.  Most of the people who prepared the food and the servers were in the audience.  It really felt like the room was filled with family.  Chris sat at the back in the queen's chair.  He thoroughly enjoyed the show and even gestured and conducted some of the songs.  It was great having him be a part of the show.  It was the perfect way to end the weekend.

So here's what I want to say about Drew and Walt.  First Walt.

Even though I wrote the dialog and directed the show, Walt was truly my partner.  He really took on half the burden and there's no way I could have done any of it without him.  He and I had so much fun together, onstage and off.  And all the craziness with the queen was really kind of fun because it was shared with Walt.  I'm so happy he's my friend.

And now, about my brother.  On the Wednesday before the show we still didn't have anyone who could run the music cues.  All we needed was someone who could sit at a table and work an iPad to advance to the next song.  We needed someone who could come to the rehearsal on Friday and do all the shows on Saturday and Sunday.  Without someone who was willing to make that commitment we didn't have a show.  I asked Drew if he could do it.

Drew came to the rehearsals on Thursday and Friday.  He helped set up lights and worked on anything else that needed to be done in the room.  He learned the ins and outs of the whole show and even gave me notes on my performance.  He gave useful suggestions wherever he saw they were needed without ever overstepping the bounds of manners or appropriateness.  Backstage he made sure everyone had a place to sit.  He set up background music for in-between the shows.  He poured tea for all of us!  And on top of all of that he's just an awesome guy to hang out with.  I'm a very lucky sister.  Thank you, Drew.

Man, this was quite an experience.  Lots of lessons learned!  Mainly about ownership.  Personal ownership of a role or a commitment.  Drew has it.  Walt has it.  So does Terry, the guy who was the chairman of the church committee for the Dickens Faire.  And his wife, Sue, and all the others at the church who worked so hard to put this on.  It was a pretty cool thing to be a part of.  Even the hapless lady-in-waiting who walked on crutches and rode around in a scooter making sure the queen was taken care of even though the queen couldn't be bothered with communicating with her about the whereabouts of that stupid script.  Maybe it's because her dress wasn't pretty enough.

Get well, Chris!  I don't want to do this again!