Program from a 1986 production of "Gone to Texas"
This past weekend my cousin visited, and while at dinner she and I got to discussing performances we had participated in as children. The more we chatted, the more humorous I realized one of my most early shows must have been.
After playing head angel, my next performance was as Lena Mayfield in a school production of Dorothy Gail Elliott’s Gone to Texas, an “historical musical of 1836″ that strives to showcase the ethnic diversity of early Texas (Anglo, Black, Mexican, German, Caddo, Mississippian) and every child in the school thanks to large chorus numbers. My casting in the show occurred in an unexpected manner. One day, while sitting in Mrs. Fleming’s third grade class, I received a packet delivered to me by main office courier. It had a pink slip attached to the front stating I would be playing Lena Mayfield in the spring show. The attached packet was the script and score. I was to report to the cafeteria (in which our stage resided) at recess for rehearsal.
How was it that I was cast in the show without auditioning? Apparently the sixth graders had been invited to audition for the main roles in the show. Since Alec Robinson had been cast as Ned Mayfield and he was one of the only red-headed kids in the school (as was I), it was a logical next-step to conscript me as one of his five children. For about four months I missed recess nearly daily, as the Mayfield family is the primary family in the show. The strange thing is, I didn’t really miss recess because I enjoyed going to rehearsal. With all that practice, I still recall the opening line of the show, which was mine: “Is the baby still awake, mama?”. (Of course, Lena makes this inquiry earnestly while churning butter and watching her 12-year-old mother rock her doll-child in the rocking chair which was brought along in the Conestoga.) Sadly, I’ve forgotten all the musical numbers. They must have been hilarious.
Retrospectively, I can see how entertaining it must have been to watch sixth graders play parenting adults. But, when one is 7 years old, sixth graders are not only really tall but immensely more mature and good-looking. They are like adults. Watching them sit around the table in the show discussing the dangers of a wild Texas and guns and traveling by covered wagon is just like watching real adult conversation, right?
