Backpack of happiness
Today I played 'Backpack of Happiness' for the people from Tilos. It became a truly magical experience!
11 o' clock, Plateia Tilos Kafenion. I seem to be running late - the children's performance is in half an hour - but Mike and Jen inform me about the Greek rhythm: it seems to occasionally poke holes in the timetable. Time to slow down. A good thing, because I notice that I'm more nervous than ever. Maybe it's because I will be playing it in English for the first time!
The setting is simple: a table, two chairs and some props like sidewalk chalk and a spork. All outside, on the terrace. No fancy theatre lights, photos, music, soundchecks. It surely speeds things up for the buildup.
Guests trickle in and order drinks at the coffee shop, while Jen tries to find the right angle to shoot some footage of the play. After a short introduction - I catch a few Greek phrases - the happy moment awaits: I can play!
To share the bliss and energy of the adventure and run into a story about a life from within, feels so immensly wonderful! To show this to children - master explorers of their own imagination - makes it even more magical. To hear children laugh and see their eyes light up from excitement and joy during the play, makes my heart jump up and down from delirious joy!
After the performance I try to tell the children they can ask questions. Greek is still my Achilles heel, but Jen jumps in fearlessly. A few kids want to know the route. I take my book and show the road map. Their little fingers move quickly across the map, while bombarding their mother with questions. She answers with calm, and I see their eyes sparkle. They seem to be immersed into the moment, filled with joy! A true gift!
I am over the moon and more! I am so insanely happy and grateful that I could perform my play, here on Tilos. A big dream come true! Thanks to everyone that came to see it!
I also performed it for the first time in English, in which I truly amazed myself! It opens up so much! I would absolutely love to perform it again in English!