I Dreamed a Dream

I just saw a post on Facebook along with some newly released pictures of a very young Julie Andrews that March 15th marked the 57th anniversary of the opening of My Fair Lady on Broadway. Seeing those pictures opened a floodgate of memories for me. I saw my first production of My Fair Lady at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse. I had just finished a run as "Amaryliss" in their production of The Music Man, and the next show up was My Fair Lady. Our cast was invited to their I.D.R. (for those not in the biz, that stands for Invitational Dress Rehearsal. The production does not have a paying audience, but is usually ready for one, and friends and family are invited so the cast can get used to the reactions of an audience before the critics come) That was back in 1974, and I had just turned 11. I had already been bitten by the Theatre Bug at a very early age. Doing Music Man for the previous 5 months had solidified my immersion into the theatre world, and I wasn't leaving anytime soon. I felt special being invited to see this production. The show starred Lynn West in the role of  "Eliza." Lynn was my "Marian", so imagine how cool I felt that I knew the star of the show. I was mesmerized from the first notes of the overture, and I fell in love with what would become my first dream role. Ask any actor to tell you what their dream role is, and they will have at least one, and probably a whole list. Mine has evolved over the years as I grow older. Alas, some of my dream roles will always be just that, dreams, because I have passed the age to be able to play them.To put it bluntly: I'M TOO OLD! :( But... Eliza Doolittle was my first dream role. I bought the Original Broadway cast album on vinyl (yes, I know I'm dating myself) after seeing the show, and I played it over and over again on my stereo Hi-Fi in my little corner bedroom, singing every song to the top of my lungs! The closest I ever came to my dream was singing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" complete with Cockney accent, clad in a dress, shawl and hat with coal dust brushed on my face for my 5th grade talent show. Considering the fact that I will turn 50 in 8 months, the window of opportunity has passed for me to ever play "Eliza" unless some day in the very distant future my retirement home decides to do a production. I won't hold my breath. Until then, I will be happy to be playing any role that is offered to me because it's really about being on the stage for me, but just in case any potential directors are reading this particular entry, here's a wish list: Mama Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and I've played her once, but I'd love to play her again now that I'm a little closer to her age, Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo. ;)