Many
of you reading this blog already know (perhaps first hand) about the
high heat and severe storms which put about a million people out of
power this past weekend. For those of you who don’t know, I will share
our adventure and experiences as we put the “camp” into “theater camp.”
Friday night we all went to attend the ASC’s production of The Merchant of Venice, as was our plan. During the performance, a wild thunderstorm hit, and the power blacked out about half a dozen times. The Playhouse staff were exceptionally calm and professional, and the actors began again after each darkness without missing a beat or dropping the emotional energy of their performance. The whole experience was a phenomenal show of endurance and stamina. At the close of the performance, the Playhouse staff encouraged all of the patrons to stay in the theatre until the storm passed. Though the power had returned to the Blackfriars Playhouse, the power did not come back to the PEG dorm.
We did not gain power again until Tuesday morning, but there are many good things about our situation. The dorm is equipped with an emergency generator which keeps on the hall lights, and a few of the power outlets give a limited amount of electricity, so the campers were able to charge their phones, etc. The cafeteria had very little power, but they have served us every meal as planned. The biggest consideration on our minds was how to keep the kids cool. Like most of the country, Virginia has been enduring high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s for several days. To combat this, we switched pieces of the schedule so that the campers can spend as much time inside air conditioned spaces in the heat of the day as possible. Many of the shops, theatres, and restaurants downtown had both power and AC, and so in the free time of the days there were many trips to get smoothies, to see movies, or to see extra shows at the ASC for free. We also shifted all of our rehearsal spaces so that we can keep these kids well and cool.
All in all, was a tough at time, but it was also an adventure. Despite everything, the campers were patient and kind, and they worked to take care of each other and to follow to our many proclamations encouraging them all to drink copious amounts of water. Now that the power has been on since Tuesday morning, life has gone back to normal. And although we’re glad to have the power back, but I’m glad to say we did okay without it.
Friday night we all went to attend the ASC’s production of The Merchant of Venice, as was our plan. During the performance, a wild thunderstorm hit, and the power blacked out about half a dozen times. The Playhouse staff were exceptionally calm and professional, and the actors began again after each darkness without missing a beat or dropping the emotional energy of their performance. The whole experience was a phenomenal show of endurance and stamina. At the close of the performance, the Playhouse staff encouraged all of the patrons to stay in the theatre until the storm passed. Though the power had returned to the Blackfriars Playhouse, the power did not come back to the PEG dorm.
We did not gain power again until Tuesday morning, but there are many good things about our situation. The dorm is equipped with an emergency generator which keeps on the hall lights, and a few of the power outlets give a limited amount of electricity, so the campers were able to charge their phones, etc. The cafeteria had very little power, but they have served us every meal as planned. The biggest consideration on our minds was how to keep the kids cool. Like most of the country, Virginia has been enduring high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s for several days. To combat this, we switched pieces of the schedule so that the campers can spend as much time inside air conditioned spaces in the heat of the day as possible. Many of the shops, theatres, and restaurants downtown had both power and AC, and so in the free time of the days there were many trips to get smoothies, to see movies, or to see extra shows at the ASC for free. We also shifted all of our rehearsal spaces so that we can keep these kids well and cool.
All in all, was a tough at time, but it was also an adventure. Despite everything, the campers were patient and kind, and they worked to take care of each other and to follow to our many proclamations encouraging them all to drink copious amounts of water. Now that the power has been on since Tuesday morning, life has gone back to normal. And although we’re glad to have the power back, but I’m glad to say we did okay without it.
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