From Cathy Holland and Steve Stanley

[Guest guest]

Steve is Martha Holland Stanley's husband, and is her mother. Martha

is a diastrophic dwarf (3 feet tall) and teaches middle school drama. This

past Friday and Saturday, under her direction, Martha's student performed the

musical production of Annie. This was Martha's first attempt at putting on a

musical. These excerpts are from emails that Martha and Steve have sent me

over the last 2 days. There words inspire me. I hope they do you, too.

THIS IS FROM MARTHA:

Annie alert!

Friday night's performance is now history. For the folks that are coming

tomorrow, you should know that the thing I truly didn't expect actually

happened. It was literally standing room only. We sold every seat and had to

find chairs. We probably violated a few fire codes, but hey...ya know...

As for the show itself, we got rave reviews and for good reason. Middle

schoolers being who they are, they pulled themselves together at THE last

second- a night mare for the director...but I'm getting used to it!!!!

Get this people, we even had complete strangers in the audience who saw the

giant sign out in front of the school and said, " Hey, my kid would love

this! " They were passing through town on their way from Massechussetts to

Florida. Ask me to tell you that story later...it's SO sweet!

So, I'm pooped but very happy. My only sadness is that it will all be over

this time tomorrow. While it will be nice to have my life back, it really is

so much fun.

Love y'all,

Mrs. Stanley (a name I hear in my sleep now- in young, urgent voices...)

THIS IS FROM STEVE:

There was an interesting little experience concerning the first night of

Martha's play that I'd like to share with you.    My instructions were to

arrive an hour before the show started and meet her.  Of course things were

going to be rather chaotic and she wouldn't know where she would be when, so

I was told to just show up and find her.

       I got there on time and went into the door closest to the auditorium

that had a sign on it that said " For security reasons, this door remains

locked at all times. "   The door was not locked.  Go figure.  Anyway, as I was

walking down the hall toward the auditorium, I heard this booming voice over

the sound system inside ordering people around.  The voice was very

authoritative and strong and had an obvious " take no prisoners " attitude.  My

first instinct was that Martha had enlisted Priscilla Bareford (our wedding

Nazi) to help her with crowd control.  But Martha would have mentioned that

to me and she didn't.  So who was this demon pushing these kids around so

forcefully, and does Martha know about this?

       As I got to the door of the auditorium, I stopped and looked around

for Martha.  She had to be there somewhere.  I was about to walk away and go

back down the hall to her classroom to look for her when the voice of the

demon onstage softened for only a moment.  Holy shit!  That WAS Martha!

       I realized that she was having a final pre-play talk-to with her cast

and crew and I didn't want to interrupt, but I also had my orders to seek and

find her.  So I went in. I walked silently down the aisle in my mysterious

trenchcoat that Martha had bought me and the haircut that she'd been pleading

me for but hadn't seen yet and sat silently in a seat close to the stage. 

Several kids on stage recognized me, and started yelling " Mrs. Stanley!  Mr.

Stanley is right there! "

       Martha was sitting on her scooter as it was pointed toward the stage,

and glanced over her shoulder in the direction they were pointing and said in

full wedding Nazi voice, " Mr. Stanley, you are a distraction.  I love you,

but you have to leave. "   As I stood and walked back up the aisle, I heard a

mixture of reactions from the kids onstage.  I heard some of them saying

" ahhh.... " as if they thought my feelings were hurt.  But I also heard some

of them kinda gasp as if thinking " Wow, if HE responds directly and

unquestioningly to her demands maybe we ought to do the same. "

       And my feelings were hurt, but only momentarily.  As I left the room,

I could still hear what was going on inside and Martha was still in very firm

control.  Basically, she was telling them that she'd given them all that she

could to go into the show and that the rest was up to them.  She was telling

them to set everything else that was going on in their minds aside and focus

on their performance.  The show was the thing.  You know what you need to do,

now do it.

       My hurt feelings left me because I realized that she was telling

herself the same thing.  She had to remain focused in order to persuade them

to remain focused.  And my presence was a distraction.  I was okay with being

asked to leave, but so glad that what she was saying was on the sound system

so I could still hear her.

       It was an interesting moment for me because I got to see a side of

Martha that I never see, a rather harsh one.  But a harsh one with a focus

and a purpose.  I've often wondered how anyone at all, much less Martha, can

control a group of rowdy kids and have them all walk together in the same

direction.  Hell, she not only did that, but had them dance and sing too.    

       I love my wife, and I'm glad that I got to see that part of her.  And

I think that through the experience, both me and her kids know not to piss

her off... 

Sorry this is long, but I don't write on here very often. Holland