Hollydale Library Kids

I swore to myself when I began writing this blog that I would only write when I had something worthwhile to say.  I am sure that I have had some valuable insights in the last eight months.  However, it is the kids of Hollydale Library in South Gate, Los Angeles who have inspired me to put pen to paper.

My story begins last summer 2011 when I was invited to perform a show called India Jane Adventurer Supreme at Hollydale library, by Jenny Wrenn – a very kind, unpretentious, red-haired librarian.  The theme was “One World”.  My shows generally skew toward younger kids where we explore lots of fantasy and fairytales.  When I got to Hollydale library on a sweltering July afternoon – there were a bunch of teens hanging around the library with a few of their younger brothers and sisters scattered amongst them.  Needless to say, South Gate is not the fanciest part of Los Angeles and I was a tad concerned with how fantastical, galloping unicorns and the three blind mice playing on the Eiffel tower in Paris were going to play to these rambunctious teens.

However, the theme being “One World” – I figured when we visited the different continents on our adventure to discover where the five Olympic rings were hidden, surely I had something in my ammunition of these many years of performing to engage this age-group.  Okay, I was nervous.

What I didn’t bargain for – and isn’t this always the most humbling of old adages – was how much these kids taught me about rising to the challenge and performing.

They sang, they danced and they came up with the “One World Rap”.  The self consciousness that one usually associates with teens was noticeably absent.  These kids were way to cool for that!

I told the lovely Jenny Wrenn that I had a show specifically for teens – The Shakespeare Show – Lady Elizabeth Shakespeare Tells Tales.  Lady Lizzie as she is affectionately known to her friends or Lazy Lizzie as she had been aptly nicknamed by her dastardly Uncle William Shakespeare – mostly ‘cos she’s lazy … has time- traveled from the Globe Theatre in 1599 to the present day seeking the most brilliant and imaginative kids to help her comprehend the incomprehensible – her uncle’s plays.  We return to Shakespeare’s’ Globe and the kids audition for various Shakespearean plays.

Several months later and in real time just last week, I returned to South Gate as Lazy… I mean Lady Lizzie.  Generally, just the word Shakespeare  has a teen running for the hills.  These courageous teens, they were waiting outside for me to arrive.  Either that or the ice-cream truck had just come ’round.  Filled with quip and jest, these bubbly, vivacious kids helped me to carry the costumes and props inside the library.  They patiently waited for me to get done with the educational part of the program.  They answered some insightful questions such as What is something significant that has happened in the 21st Century?… Justin Bieber.  More seriously, they knew the plot of Romeo and Juliet.  They made the connection between Julius Caesar and present day rulers.  They dove into sword fighting as though we still lived in the time of The Three Musketeers.  If any of you Hollydale kids are reading this – I still want the answer as to whom you think will run against Obama in the next election!    Then they acted out the scenes with such joy and humor and curiosity that their personalities and inventiveness burst forth like brilliant rays of sunshine.    So I issue a challenge to anyone who has ever thought that teens are a difficult group to work with, that if you just respect them and give them an opportunity to shine, they will awe you with their radiance… or maybe the Hollydale kids as just unique.

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If you know of a group of teens that would enjoy a Lady Lizzie show, a group of kids who are as curious and vivacious as those Hollydale kids, please put them or their librarian, their teacher, a parent in touch with me.  I would love to perform a show for them and they deserve a chance to shine in a great Shakespeare play!

The Courage of Your Convictions

I love doing these “Ms. Bits N’ Bobs” shows, the “Lazy Lizzie” shows, the “India Jane Adventurer Supreme” shows.  They are fleeting images of my imagination that I have somehow managed to bring to life.   When I do the shows and the faces of the children light up as they turn a blank space on the wall into a giant, rainbow colored butterfly who can say Hi! or the scary, fiery-red dragon on the other wall shoots their favorite ice-cream into their imaginary cones – then I know that what I am doing is truly worthwhile.

Unfortunately, a day passes and I’m dealing with homework from three different grades, trying to get a smidgen of healthy food into my kids, making sure they are not watching too much television, and my confidence, spending time in the imaginary versus the real world, quietly goes into the dungeon.  I figure, surely there are more worthwhile things to do with my life, than tell stories from the Land of Imagination.

I say this not for a pity party, ‘cos as you can see I am valiantly going forth in my adventure of bringing “The Land of Imagination” to our local theatre community.  It comes from a conversation that I had with my youngest daughter, Tallulah recently.  Part of her homework was to fill in a chart that talked about her experiences in 1st grade.  What were her happiest moments, draw a picture of herself, what advice would she give to any incoming 1st graders etc…  One of the questions was what was your saddest moment in 1st grade.  I thought Tallulah was going to respond with a disagreement with one of her friends, a sharing of a toy issue… instead her reaction was so extreme that I became seriously concerned about it.  First of all, the “saddest thing” was so sad, that she couldn’t even tell me.  She could only write it down.  It happened on the 100th day of school, January.  It had to do with a teacher, not her teacher, but another teacher.  Well, you can imagine where my imagination went with that one.  After a two hour build up, it turned out that one of the 1st grade teachers at the school had used a harsh tone with Tallulah when she didn’t know where the pencils were kept in the classroom.

“Did she yell at you, Tallulah?”

“Nope, she just used her really mean voice.  I thought she had been such a nice teacher up until then.  Why does she hate me so much?”

Now from my lofty post as an adult, I could totally imagine the situation.  The teacher probably didn’t think twice of the moment.  On another child, the comment might have been water off a ducks back.  The extremity of the innocent reaction has a touch of sweet humor to it.  But my little Tallulah had been heartbroken by it, which of course broke my heart.  What to do?  I went and discussed the situation with Tallulah’s teacher, a remarkable woman, who I will refer to in name as one with a gulf as deep as the Grand Canyon in thoughtfulness, candor and love.  We agreed that the courage that Tallulah had shown was that despite the embarrassment, the pain and the heartbreak she had finally come forward to share her worst day of first grade with her mommy.

Now how does this relate back to Nicole and her fears that “The Land of Imagination”  is not a worthwhile addition to the world at large – I think that you have to have the courage of your convictions to put it out there.  If an imagination can be encouraged to trust itself, then perhaps one can imagine being brave and slaying the dragon of your fears.  Each day you have the courage to put forth your best foot into the world, your imaginary bravery gets translated into real courage.  Your creative ideas get a foothold in real ideas and you have created your own courageous destiny.

As for my part… I will always keep a fresh pencil on hand for you and your ideas in The Land of Imagination.

Ms. Bits N’ Bobs Show – Take #2

Hallo there friends and fan’s of Ms. Bits N’ Bobs.  I got such positive feedback from the first two shows, that we are going to do two more.  Much Thanks to  Manhattan Beach Karate and Yoga for letting me turn their studio into a black box theatre.  In this space, the kids get to come up on into the stage space and help act out the show.

Do your kids enjoy acting?
Do your kids enjoy adventure?
Do your kids enjoy fairytales?
Where do the stories go when they get lost?
Help us solve the mystery!

Bring your cameras!  Bring your imaginations!

Watch your children dress up, act, sing and dance whilst they go on a grand adventure with Ms. Bits N’ Bobs to the Land of Imagination

The Ms. Bits & Bobs Show

A Family Performance Brought to you by

the Land of Imagination.

Interactive Children’s theater

www.landofimagination.com

Saturday May 14th & Saturday May 28th

11:00am to Noon

Tickets are $10 per person – cash at the door.

We would love you to join us with your younger kids.  However, should brunch beckon, drop offs welcomed for children 5 and up with contact info.

Reservations  are necessary as the space holds 30 people

RESERVE! RESERVE! RESERVE! BEFORE WE SELL OUT!!!

310 594 2774 or email nicole@landofimagination.com

OR

Name(required)

Email(required)

Number of tickets(required)

Date(required) Saturday May 14th Saturday May 28th

Comment

Manhattan Beach Karate and Yoga Studio

3207 Manhattan Avenue @Longfellow

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

SOLD OUT!

SOLD OUT!  I’m just going to keep writing those words, in case it never happens again.  Those are heart warming words to all actors, directors and producers.  I am in the fortunate, deeply angst ridden group of being all three albeit to a 30 seat house.

Oh, I felt such joy as that empty reservations list starting filling up, person by person, phone call by phone call.  I really did attempt to be all professional as I took each person’s reservation, but I loved ‘em, each single person who was brave enough to be a pioneer into The Land of Imagination with me.  There were my friends, who brought their kids and their friends’ kids.  There was the grandma, who told me that someone put a flyer through her door with a note on it, saying “Go see this show!”  Then there were some mom’s who were the bravest of the brave.  They did not know who Ms. Bits N’ Bobs was, but they were willing to take a chance on some culture for their kids.

Naturally, as soon as the nagging fear had passed as to whether I would have an audience for this second show, it was followed by the horrible butterflies in my tummy as to whether I would do a decent job performing the show.  Whilst the show had been performed multiple times before, I had added some ideas, that could only be fully realized in a theater space.  There was a giant mirror and instead of just waltzing in as Ms. Bits N’ Bobs in full character, I spent some time as Nicole in the audience, spending time with the kids and their parents.  Then just as though I were playing dress up, I got up and played in front of the mirror, as I transformed into the Ms. Bits N’ Bobs persona.  They laughed, they played, it worked.

The children were electric with energy and filled with ideas on what they saw in the Land of Imagination.  The kids saw rainbows and butterflies, dragons and monsters.  There was one angelic young girl, Mia.  She must have been around 5 years old, with the sweetest lilt in her voice and the eyes of an angel.  She was very wary of me as I sat and chatted with the kids in the audience at the beginning of the show, moving away from me when I said “Hallo!”  Now her hand was insistently raised silently shouting “Pick on me! Pick on me!”  Dutifully I asked “What do you see in the Land of Imagination?”  Straight faced, Mia answers “Zombies.”  Later on in the show…”If you could speak any language other than your own, what would you speak?”  Mia…”Zombie Language.”  The audience cracked up.  Finally, the kids are all telling me their favorite books, stories and nursery rhymes.  “Yes, Mia…and your favorite story is?”  With a smile that filled the room she reacted right on cue “Percy Jackson and the …  Zombies!”

Each show is individual unto itself.  My “SOLD OUT!” audience will always be close to my heart.  Now the question remains, should I try to do this again.  Clearly yes!  I think?  Maybe?  Will I ever get another audience?  Will I ever sell out again?  Perhaps I’ll only ever sell out to Zombies?

Let’s see…

The Journey has Begun…

The Journey has begun…

The premiere Ms. Bits N’ Bobs theatre show has come and gone.

Without a hitch?  Mmmm?  Without any angst?  Nmm?  Fun to perform?  YES! YES! YES!

Blessed art thou, the Karate Sensei who told me that I should just go ahead and do my shows in his Karate Studio.  www.mbkarateandyoga.com He is also the guy who told me many years ago, “you do the best that you can do, with what you’ve got.”  This was when I was attempting to do karate kicks whilst holding two year old Olivia on one arm.  A crawling 9 month old Tallulah was trying to cling to my leg as I attempted to complete a Karate kick whilst avoiding kicking my son, Dash, with whom I was trying to bond and the only reason I had taken up Karate in the first place.

Ah those halcyon days… why did I ever think that those were the difficult times?  I must have sent out over 300-400 emails advertising these shows.  I approached all the very kind pre-school and elementary school principles and librarians, teachers and friends, who have provided so much encouragement and support over the last few years.  I handed out a few hundred flyers to people around my local school, including the all important local nanny network who hang out on the greenbelt close to my house.  All of this work and anxiety to merely sell 30 tickets per show.

Show #1… I sold 10 tickets!  Now on my behalf, it was the first weekend of baseball season and the St. Patrick’s Day parade.  Still… only ten tickets!

I had known going into that Saturday morning, that perhaps I had some learning to do in the marketing department.  I was  still bummed that so few people were showing up to the premiere show.

Holy Flying Guacamole!  They were the greatest ten people to ever participate in a show.  We took on the challenge of going to the Land of Imagination with verve and vigor.  When we galloped into an alternative universe on our magical horses, we flew there through a splash of color and camaraderie with fairies, dragons, Cinderella and even a cannon that shot out kids.  We met Charlotte, the spider from Charlotte’s Web.  She joined the audience – we needed her, she made 11.  One of our kids could describe Hansel and Gretel’s house so clearly, that we were all salivating to try some of the sparkling gingerbread.  But we knew the witch was really inside waiting for her chance to jump us.  The kids could talk all kinds of animal languages, my favorite being the Human Language where the mom spoke Blah, Blah, Blah all day.

I feel invigorated and joyful that I had the chance to entertain and be entertained by those magical children.  The journey has begun with small but magical steps.  I look forward to Ms. Bits N’ Bobs – Take #2 this weekend.  Naturally, I would love to share the adventure with you.

Ms. Bits N’ Bobs Live Performances Coming to a Theatre Near You!!

Hallo there friends and fan’s of Ms. Bits N’ Bobs.  I am so excited to be able to perform some shows in my own theatre space, thanks to Manhattan Beach Karate and Yoga.  I would love you to come and see the first couple of shows….

The Ms. Bits & Bobs Show

A Family Performance Brought to you by

the Land of Imagination.

Interactive Children’s theater

www.landofimagination.com

Saturday March 12th & Saturday March 19th

11:00am to Noon

Tickets are $10 per person – cash at the door.

We would love you to join us with your younger kids.  However, should brunch beckon, drop offs welcomed for children 5 and up with contact info.

Reservations  are necessary as the space holds 30 people

RESERVE! RESERVE! RESERVE! BEFORE WE SELL OUT!!!

310 594 2774 or email nicole@landofimagination.com

OR

Name(required)

Email(required)

Number of tickets(required)

Date(required) Saturday March 12th Saturday March 19th

Comment

Manhattan Beach Karate and Yoga Studio

3207 Manhattan Avenue @Longfellow

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

The Definition of a Winner!

If you have been following my blog, I hope that you have figured out that I believe in a positive attitude when it comes to raising children.  It’s so uplifting  when you see your daughters following a similar philosophy.

I don’t know what bedtime conversation is in your household… The following took place in our home last night.

Olivia:  Do you ever feel like a loser, Tallulah?

Tallulah:  No?

Olivia:  ‘Cos if you do, you’re not you know.

Tallulah:  Really?

Olivia:  Yeah, ‘cos your sperm swam faster than all the other sperms and got to mom’s egg first.  See, no matter how much of a loser you sometimes feel, you’re always a winner!

Tallulah:  Mom?!!!

Now I have to define sperm for my six year old.

The Mighty Fashionisto

Once upon a time I wore fashionable, quirky London/New York city finery.  These have been replaced by wanna-work-out-but-can’t-quite-get-my-butt-in-gear clothing.  One early morning, the tables were turned upside down in our household.

I am still rushing to finish the breakfast dishes and prepare the school lunches when I hear the following remark from the living room…

“Mmm…I don’t know about wearing those boots with cut off jeans.”  A fashion opinion in my household at 7:30 am in the morning from a male?  And Dash had already left for school.   That left…

The Mighty Buza (aka my husband and father of our children) has dared to confront Olivia (8 years going on 18 years – fashion icon to our family) on her brand new black boots – admired by the entire third grade.

Worried for his safety, I drop the clutter of mugs and dishes in the sink and rush to his rescue, dripping suds in my wake.  There…on the couch sits the Mighty Buza and his daughters – Tallulah has joined the fray – discussing the merits of boots versus kicks.  Kicks, by our definition, are Converse All Star/Skechers sneakers that come in a variety of colors from simple black to sparkling bejeweled rainbows. The discussion has not come to blows and tears, just bright, articulate, bubbly conversation.  As I am picking my jaw up from the sudsy floor, the Mighty Buza politely explains that kicks are a more appropriate shoe to wear with jeans – whilst boots look great with skirts and leggings.  The girls are listening intently.  Did you read that!  “Listening intently!!”  Not dismissing him like an abhorrent vegetable on their dinner plate.

Then…the Mighty Buza suggests “Let’s see a fashion show!”  Off dances Olivia on the improvised catwalk performing a Parisian perfect runway show complete with twirl and contemptuous stare pose.

Tallulah:  Well…I’m not going to do THAT!

Before my astounded, still sleepy eyes… up rises the Mighty Buza and demonstrates the model saunter – one step directly in front of the other, shoulders back, hips a swaying – to his youngest child.

My jaw has dropped so far down that its threatening to roll out of the door by this time.  Tallulah – who is model tall and therefore naturally slouches – jumps off the couch – stands up to her full height, shoulders back and produces her own magnificent model on the catwalk swagger.

“And that’s how it’s done.” pronounces my husband “The Mighty Buza” as they each peck me on the cheek and head out the front door to school and work respectively.

The Magic?

I often have children ask me whether I am real?  More philosophically profound when addressed to me as a mother in my workout clothing,  more understandable when addressed to me as Ms. Bits N’ Bobs with my brightly colored cloak covered in toys.

I always struggle with the answer.  Some children want to believe in the magic all the way, and if I tell them its all just make-believe, the entire experience is lessened.  Others are afraid, that if Ms. Bits n’ Bobs is real, that puts everything else into question, as in “does that mean the big bad wolf really can come and get me?”

We are Jewish.  That is why I feel it is important to tell you about my first Christmas.  For reasons that belie my current parenting angst, when I was eight years old, on a chilly December morning, my parents put me on a plane by myself from Johannesburg to Capetown, so that I could spend a vacation with my step-grandmother, Granny ‘Nita.  The two hour plane ride was completely uneventful – I wasn’t kidnapped, didn’t open the emergency doors and dance on the wings (it was tempting) and it didn’t even occur to me to pretend to be a terrorist.  Ah innocent days.

Granny ‘Nita met me at the airport with a safe hug and a smile and drove me through the lilac, Jacquaranda tree-lined streets to my step-mother’s childhood home in Bellville – where the mulberry tree overlooked the swimming pool.  Over the next few days, hands purple from squishing fresh mulberries into my mouth, I swam off excess energy and played with the newborn puppies of the household.

Christmas was approaching, an event noticeable in our household for eliciting yawns as one of the most boring days of the year.  We certainly didn’t celebrate a “Christian” holiday and clearly all the other kids were too busy for play dates on this day.

However, Uncle S. had married a “Christian” and we were going to her family’s home on Christmas day.  I was certainly politely curious about Xmas trees, Santa, presents etc… but definitely as an outsider who did not participate in these rituals.  The other family was also Afrikaans speaking making the whole experience even more exotic.

As was Granny ‘Nita’s way, I went with her on all her shopping chores.  On this particular day, a few days before Christmas, I was to help her find a birthday gift for one of her bridge buddies grandchildren, who fascinatingly enough was around my age.

Now, you know, I was on my best behavior throughout this holiday and today I was so excited to actually be useful.  Up and down the glittering aisles of tinsel, Granny ‘Nita and I paraded – was she thinking of something expensive or less so?  Granny ‘Nita wasn’t sure – so I pointed out both kinds.  Was she close to this child?  Should it be a very personal gift?  Yes, Granny ‘Nita was really fond of this little girl.  Was she a girly girl or more of a tomboy?  “A little of both” Granny ‘Nita replied after serious thought.

We didn’t end up purchasing anything that day for the lucky girl.  I was quite jealous of her actually, except clearly Granny ‘Nita preferred me as I hadn’t even met this girl yet.  I hope that she liked the gifts that I had helped to choose.

Christmas day arrived as uneventful as always.  I helped feed the puppies – then off to the Christmas festivities in “Afrikaansland” we went.  In South Africa, it was mandatory to learn Afrikaans from Kindergarten upwards.  However, aged eight, I’d never heard a bunch of people who actually spoke this language as their native tongue.  I’d always just thought of the lesson as an especially useless part of the school day.

At the party, there were at least twenty kids and they were super friendly and welcoming to me – in Afrikaans.  I understood NOT a word.  I smiled politely.

Then Santa came out.  Not from the fireplace, but the door near it.  It was Uncle S. – I understood not to tell the secret, not even if I could have in Afrikaans.  But I did finally comprehend that it was Jewish men who all played Santa.  At least we played some role on Christmas day.  He carried, should I say dragged the biggest, furry, red sack I had ever seen.  I understood that the childrens’ gifts would be inside and stood aside so that my new found, exuberant, Afrikaans friends could enjoy their bounty.  I also understood that there would be no gifts for me as this was not my holiday – in the same way that when you go to someone else’s birthday party, it’s completely acceptable for that child to get gifts but not you.

For although Uncle S. had dressed the role of Santa, clearly the real Santa had dropped the gifts through the chimney that morning and in the same way that G-d spared the Children of Israel at Passover – Santa spared us by passing over our Chimney’s at Christmas.

So, imagine my surprise when Uncle S. “Santa” yells my name with some Afrikaans words sprinkled in, from across the room  The sea of jolly, smiling kids parts the way and gift upon gift… upon gift are piled upon me – yes, little Jewish me – from Santa!

Every single gift that I had so thoughtfully suggested to Granny ‘Nita for “that other girl” were oohed and aahed over by my new non-English speaking friends.  From a manicure set, to a beautiful doll, a paint set and a snow globe, I got the most gifts out of everyone.

I knew the gifts were from Granny ‘Nita.  Clearly, she did too.  But we both knew the gifts were officially from Santa.  When I asked her how I could say thank you, Granny ‘Nita just said “Keep the magic alive in your life”.

I still have the manicure set and Granny ‘Nita your magic lives on in my heart.

What is your OCD?

I was with a group of friends out at dinner recently when we started discussing our weird tics and habits.  One good friend has the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) of checking all the locks on her doors twice before she goes out.  My other friend always checks that the stove is turned off.  There is the “no-lipstick on my teeth” checking friend and the “I can’t throw anything away” friend.  Then came my turn.  Whilst I cannot immediately think of any strange tics or habits… I do like to dress up in a brightly colored cloak, covered in toys each day and go out and sing and dance and tell stories to children.

There is nothing quite as wonderful as walking into a roomful  of children and waving at them whilst watching them wonder why is this bizarre woman dressed so strangely and wildly waving at me?  Only moments later as they are laughing at how their gentle high-fives cause me to howl in pain, and how I apparently cannot get my hat on my head correctly…do we dance hand in hand into the joyful Land of Imagination, where we can go anywhere and do anything.

The month of July has taken me to libraries and Summer Camps all over Los Angeles and the OC.  There have been rich libraries and poor libraries, older and younger kids, exhausted and exhilarated parents (mostly exhausted), and kind, encouraging children’s librarians.

Memorable moments for this Summer have been the Summer Camp where all forty kids decided that they needed to take their shoes off in order to go galloping as magical horses to the Land of Imagination.  Getting hugs from a ten year old girl who has been coming to my shows since she was four years old.  The child who kept interrupting my show to inform me that he was dressed as a bee and would be flying as one today.  There was the  father who was so engrossed in conversation with another grown-up that he didn’t notice his two year old until she had reached my ipod station and was changing all the music settings in the middle of a show.  The family who came to get autographs on the back of my business card.  I didn’t know whether to sign it Ms. Bits n’ Bobs or Nicole.  But mostly, there is the look of wonder when we open the magical Storybook Land book at the end of the show and the stories which have gone missing are all magically returned.

So, when life is getting you down, the bills are piling up and the kids are screaming and yelling that they are bored in the Summer time.  Pick up a jacket or a sweater, a table-cloth or a tea towel.  You know those toys on the floor that you always trip on at midnight.  Tie those to the tablecloth.  Fling it over your shoulder.  Choose the silliest name you can think of.  Put on some music and go dance with your children.

If that doesn’t work, just call me.