This week I went home to see my 14 year old sister perform in her Jr. High's production of Beauty and the Beast. Now, as we all know, the quality of those performances are usually not spectacular (I mean, a 14 year old boy with a changing voice trying to belt out Gaston's songs isn't exactly pleasant). But, puberty sucks, so I can't give them too much flack about it.
I mentioned Gaston in particular for a reason. The kid could. not. sing. At all. None. Nada. No sense of pitch. But dang - the kid could act. He filled the role so well, and had really impressive stage presence.
So, during intermission, I turned to my brother when I thought all possibility of possible relatives overhearing me was gone, and mentioned how, even though he couldn't sing, the kid could really act well, and how impressed I was.
I should have learned my lesson long ago to just wait to critique until I am in the safety of my car or my house. But no, I just couldn't wait.
Lo and behold, his mother was sitting in front of us. She turned around and said that Gaston was her son. I wanted to go bury myself in a hole. I just said her son couldn't sing (granted, I said more nice things than bad things - but still - that was the first thing I said).
So, what do I do? I play it off and say how impressed I am with his stage presence and we talk about how much he loves acting and wants to go on broadway and act. Nice conversation. But still. Ugh. Why me?
Moral of the story: Do not say bad things about actors when their family is potentially within hearing range.
