When my student jugglers headed to do their second show of the year at the Barron Center nursing home in Portland earlier this month, I was not particularly confident that they were ready.  Yes, they had a successful first show at the Cornish Apple Festival in September, but we had added several more routines since then, and our last rehearsal was rough to say the least.  My apprehension, I learned, was unnecessary.

After scrambling to have enough chaperones for the trip - this year's class of 21 is harder to transport than last year's 15 students - we finally were packed, loaded in the vans, and heading to Portland.  The kids had extra time to warm up, which, it turns out, went a long way toward preparing them for their routines. 

When 10:00 rolled around, we were ready, and the audience was settled in to enjoy the show.  We opened with "Friend Like You", a partner juggling routine in which kids come on stage in pairs and steal, half juggle and pass props.  They pulled it off without a mistake.  As the show progressed, it was clear that they were on their game.  Every juggling routine was spot on. 

While the kids still clearly have some things to work on, including projecting louder when speaking, the whole show was pretty good for this early in the school year.  Adam was terrific playing Adam from Genesis.  He couldn't get the apple eating / juggling trick at all in the last rehearsal, but nailed it in the show.  Veronica's dove production was perfect.  Brady was hysterical miming, and Grace S. really stepped it up on her six bill repeat illusion.  She is the master of expressiveness on stage.

After the show, the students visited the residents to speak with them about  the 'good old days', the show, and to pray with those who wanted to pray.  It was a sweet time that we have reflected back on several times since.  And the day went a long way to reassuring me as we prepare for our October gig.