Home again ... And feeling a little giddy !!!!!

So, thanks to my friend Denise putting a bug in my ear, and the strong encouragement of my wonderful parents, I audition for and got a large role in a production called Ravenscroft. It is being produced by and performed at The Very Little Theater (VLT) in Eugene. I play Mrs. Ravenscoft, the lusty, rich, young widow.
The play is set in 1905 at my manor in England. It is a murder mystery, which turns comedic when I am on stage as I am a woman who is willing to shamelessly throw myself at the Inspector to either distract or bribe him. I am not sure if my character is a scatter brain or just plays it that way to her advantage. It depends on my mood I suppose.
The death being investigated is that of a young man, Patrick, who fills many roles in the manor. Coachman, groom, footman, repairman, Gardner, and boy toy to all the women in my house. This includes my daughter Gillian, her governess Marcy, the cook Mrs. French, and the maid Dolly.
Patrick is found at the bottom of the staircase appearing to "be quite dead" as my character describes it. Did he fall, or was he pushed, that is the inspectors job to uncover. Unfortunately he is dealing 5 outrageous woman. And much to his shock; my husband died much the same way only 3 months earlier.
We all blame it on several people, and even a beautiful spirit who haunts the top of the stairs. The thing is, we are all hiding a very big secret, and the confusion we weave causes the inspector to drink. In the end he ends up hearing the truth "more or less". The secret is that my husband liked to dress up in a white ball gown, among other things, and dance with Patrick at the top of the stairs. They ended up arguing, and my husband fell down the steps. Three months later, Patrick asked Dolly, whom he "got preggers", to dress up in a suit, while he wore the white ball gown, and dance with him at the top of the steps. She stepped on the hem of his dress and he fell. None of us knew this and discover it only after several arguments, physical altercations, and even hitting the Inspector over the head with a vase to prevent him from arresting me, the lady of the house.
Most of us think my slightly mental but very sweet daughter did it in her sleep and are trying to protect her. I am ruthless in this and will stop at nothing to prevent her or myself from going to prison.
This is the most diverse character I have ever played. She is the comedic relief, she is mean, she is in control, she is morally corrupt and a very good liar. I love playing this part. I get to yell, cry, and flirt. I have a very strong accent which took a lot of work, I have a lot of lines, with huge speeches, I wear a big skirt and a ton of jewelry. I am the one walking up and down the large flight of stairs. None of us ever leaves the stage, there are no walls or doors, so we are always in view, so even when you are off, you are "on".
But I have to say all of that was no where near as difficult as playing the funny one and the physical one. I never knew I had comedic timing, but I am told that I have excellent timing, and I am enjoying it.
I have also had to really learn how to play such a physically aggressive (sexually seductive) person. Because without about 5 shots of Jose, I am soooooo not that way.
Some fun things to know about the play is, we really do break a vase over his head every night. We really do throw water in his face, we really do attack each other, I am wearing an un-godly amount of underwire and under wear (no wonder those woman passed out and went into urinary retention all the time, you can't breath and it takes far too much work to get undressed enough to pee!)
We have had a few pictures in the paper, and even a critic review. She did not like the play but had very supportive and interesting things to say about us.
She called me valumpsous, beautiful, imposing, and that she would really like to see me in another/better play.
I love the VLT and will be volunteering there on several levels. I won't audition for anything again until summer time I think. This took a lot of time from Corey, and I am so grateful that my parents are here and sooooo supportive. But I really missed him this summer.
The play runs until the end of August. I have had such a wonderful time. It felt like being home. At auditions, I thought I would feel weird and out of place. It had been several years of non participation for me. But when I walked into that theater I knew that I still had the passion and ended up with my best audition ever.
All this to say, never let go of your passions for life. The things that make you happy. Large or small, they are important. I will probably never make a living in the Theater, but I will make myself very happy. Isn't that just as important? I honestly think it is!