Those of you reading this will notice that I'm posting a day after events happen - I apologise but we are finishing pretty late so I'm writing my blog after each performance then posting it when I have wifi the next day :)
Well today marked the start of my crossover period; for the
next few days I will be rehearsing as Blue Family Cast during the day, and
performing as part of the Red Choir in the evenings. The BFC (shortening as I’m
typing this while very tired!) registered around 10am (including having our mug
shots taken – I’m hoping these aren’t going to come back to haunt us in the
future!). 0nce the majority had arrived, we headed into the chapel to meet
together and hear from those heading up the pageant before being put into our
districts (groups). So I am now part of the Heber C Kimball district (BFC) as
well as part of the John Benbow district (choir)! We met in our districts and
shared some of our reasons for being part of the British Pageant. For me, the
initial decision was for myself; I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and
auditioning for the Pageant seemed an ideal way to do it. I didn’t get a main
part (obviously, since I’m in the choir and family cast!), but the audition itself
was such an amazing experience, nothing like what you would expect an audition
to be, that I wanted to continue being a part of it. No one was competing with
each other to be the best, we were all working as a team to do our best
together. The Spirit was strong and we all had such a great time – how can you
not want to be a part of that?!
After our district meetings and lunch we met in the theatre
to run through one of the dances. Over the last few days I’ve thought being in
the choir was tiring and hot – but after this afternoon I have newfound respect
for the core and family casts! We were hot and sweaty but having the time of
our lives. The children were brilliant, such enthusiasm is infectious.
Once we’d rehearsed the dance several times, I had just over
an hour to shower and change for tonight’s performance and grab some dinner
(fortunately I’d pre-ordered, and it was delicious)!
Yesterday we had rain pouring down until the pre-pageant
activities, today the opposite – the sun was shining and we were all wishing we
had electric fans (not that we could take such modern conveniences onstage!).
The guests (aka the audience) all seemed to be having a great time on the
activities – some of my family were visiting tonight and my niece loved her peg
doll, and my nephews their spinners.
The show itself was, if possible, even better than last
night. We were reminded beforehand by President Kerr that this is not about us.
There are no stars in this performance. We are all here because we want to
share the love we have for the gospel, for the truth that we have found. And
with our beginner/amateur abilities and our weaknesses, it is truly the Lord
who makes up what we lack. And that is the magic of the Pageant. That is why
our guests have such a wonderful time, because they feel something, they know
that there is something different about this pageant; that difference being
that this is the Lord’s work, not a West End production.
I asked some people afterwards what their favourite part
was. So many responded “Everything”, others “The music!”, one boy said that his
favourite part was when the banner was unfurled, because it was twisted! Yes,
mistakes are made during performances! But that is part of the beauty of this
pageant – we are doing our best, and no one minds if mistakes are made because
after all, we are only human. And as I have said before (and will no doubt say
again!), Heavenly Father is making up for what we lack. One of our guests replied that the best part
of it was having us all gather together to share what we know.
For me, the best part of this pageant is the way that it
touches lives. Being a part of that is just incredible, and I am so grateful
for the opportunity to be here and take part. The tiredness that I felt at the
beginning of the week? It hasn’t vanished completely. But I have strength and
stamina that I wouldn’t have if I were keeping the hours I’m keeping at
anything other than this (apart from possibly EFY, which I go to in just over a week!). I love walking around the Temple grounds here each
day hearing people spontaneously start singing one of the songs, or humming
along as they walk. As someone put it last night, ‘There is great power in
music.’ How true that is.
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