Fiddler on the Roof

The operetta my senior year was Fiddler on the Roof.  I dreamt about being in the operetta like other kids thought of prom or maybe playing the big football  game. I had journal entries from my freshman year expressing the angst I felt when contemplating not getting into the operetta my senior year!  Somehow, it never occurred to me that anything but more talented students would keep me from getting a part.  I thought hard work would be everything I needed.  Now, I felt a threat from within the judging panel itself!   Never mind that I was pretty sure that the rest of the judges would judge me purely on whether or not I could carry the part!  I just didn't know how much weight each judge carried and what clout Miss Piggy had in swaying the other judges opinion!. 

I'm pretty sure Mr. Burkel picked the shows for operetta based on talent pool.  I think he picked Fiddler for the quantity of good female roles since we had so many talented girls that year and barring a bomb of an audition or a broken leg, he probably had a good idea of who would get cast.  But for an 18 year od with esteem issues, it was a much bigger mystery! 

Miss Piggy was always a surprise to me.  I had not really had issues with a teachers in High School.  Even the Phys. Ed teacher liked me, and it was not because of my great athletic ability!  I'm sure that I was annoying and a little demanding, but basically, I was a good kid who was happy to please adults.  I just couldn't please Ms. Piggy.

I did get a good part in the operetta, despite Ms. Piggy's efforts to keep me out.  I should not have been privvy to certain information about the selection process, but it has been 33 years, and some of the key players aren't even around any more, so I am telling what I know/knew.  (I feel scandalous!)

I guess, Ms. Piggy told the other judges that they should not consider giving me a part, because I would probably be unavailable for rehearsals  due to over-involvement.  She then, unwittingly, listed church choir, orchestra, Jefferson City Symphony and probably something else she thought equally as damning.  Unfortunately, Ms. Piggy had not done her homework. She did not realize that the other judges were also involved in those things.  They had known me since 5th grade, knew my dad, and knew that responsibility to those organizations was a priority.  The 2nd/3rd hand story is that Mr. Burkel said to Ms. Piggy, "Miss Baur has been a responsible member of those organizations for years, and she has never allowed her involvement to interfere with participating in school activities"... Or something like that... Rather than ensuring that I did not get a role, she probably solidified it.

I do not want to give the impression that my involvement in Fiddler was just a way to thumb my nose in the face of Ms. Piggy by getting a part.  Contrary.  Being in the operetta was the high point of my senior year if not most of High School.  Rivaled only by having a solo at Capital Caroling, the operetta was everything I had thought about for the last four years.  I got to hang with my friends. I got to sing.  I got to be part of the lead group and feel special.  I got to flirt with the guys and make new friendships with people I thought were too cool to hang with me.  It was just icing to hear Ms. Piggy mispronounce my character's name in front of the whole cast...

Now that I am an adult and have the opportunity to understand her side of the situation, I can see why I was such a thorn in her side.  At our initial meeting, my agenda was to tell her how to run her program.  I wanted her to do things they way (in my mind) they had always been done.  I was bossy and probably seemed entitled to her.  I would have been amusing to an older, more confident, more seasoned teacher.

As a Play Therapist, I have to set limits on kids behavior.  The way to set limits is called  ACT.  I always call it the ACT formula as if it is a Fluoride rinse.  It is, though, equally as effective so, I think that is okay!  ACT stands for Acknowledge the feeling or intention, Communicate the limit, and Target an acceptable alternative. In setting limits with kids, it would look something like this:  "Eli, I know you like to play "cowboy"[acknowledge the intention], but the dog is not for riding like a horse [communicate the limit].  Maybe you could ask Daddy to be your horse". [target the alternative}.  If I was to go back to that first meeting with Ms. Piggy, I would use the ACT method to communicate.  "Ms. Piggy, " (always use the name to ensure they know you are talking to them), "I know how hard it is to be a new teacher, and I am sure you have lots of plans for this year.  However, I am only here for one more year, and I have been looking forward to this year since I was a freshman.  Maybe we can collaborate to keep the old traditions, and blend in some of your new ideas."

Alternatively,  Ms. Piggy could have said, "I imagine that it must be very hard to lose your drama teachers your senior year and I know how important your traditions have become to you.  But since I am here now,  I would love to start some new traditions and share my ideas for the program.  Maybe we could collaborate to come up with some cool ideas."  That's what she could have said and the year would have gone much smoother.

There is more to say about  both Ms. Piggy and about Fiddle on the Roof.  But that's enough for today!