I first read the script for Puffs in the summer of 2020. It was the silly, absurd tonic to a scary world. I saw bits and pieces of production clips in the six months or so after that, and we decided in March of 2021 try and produce the show here. In the chunk of time between first reading the play and now, there have been rather a lot of things going on. Doubtless you noticed some of the same things that I did it that stretch?
Here, in no particular order, are some the things that I have learned since Puffs entered my life:
1. Laughter is indeed the best medicine. It should be taken in conjunction with other medicines, especially these days, but show me someone who has lived through the last two years, and I'll show you someone in need of a good laugh! We hope to oblige.
2. Laughing at yourself is way better than laughing at other people. Laughing at other people is awesome, but better if you can laugh at yourself.
3. The kids are alright. These students have survived: they are resilient and gutsy. Not to be crude, but they have the balls to clean up the mess, fix what we've broken, make it better. And they know a good joke when they hear one.
4. If you know what's appropriate, you can get really good at being inappropriate. Over the last seven weeks, these students have studied and trained in the art of being inappropriate. To the untrained eye show may seem grossly inappropriate, but trust us: we are professionals.
5. These high school students got a raw deal the last few years and had the choice to make the best of a bad situation or the worst of it. I am grateful to these theatre artists for doing what truly brave and powerful people do in a bad situation: create. It's an honor to be in the company of these artists and heroes.
6. The class of 2022 in particular has had a lot to be afraid of. These seniors have shown me how they can be afraid, push through the fear, persevere, and thrive. In spite of their fears, they have chosen love and light. They are wizards!
7. We need more art! More painting, more singing, more dancing, more whatever-that-thing-is. When Broadway goes dark, it darkens our entire nation. More art. Start now. Buy a piano. Take a drawing class. Go see a concert. Put your children in as many art classes, camps, programs as you can find. Donate to arts programs in the schools. Vote for people who support the arts in education, the community, our nation. It will save the world.
8. It is easy to be grateful when everything is going well. Based on the last two years, I need to work on humility, gratitude, and giving. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to share my love of theatre with these passionate, creative, talented students. I am grateful to our PHS community who values the arts even when budgets, schedules, class sizes, and requirements don't support them. I am SO grateful to work with amazing artists like Kari Armstrong, Laura Lenczycki, Annslee Longmore, the PHS music department, and even more grateful that I can call them friends as well as colleagues. I am grateful beyond words for my wife Melanie, and to have my children and my parents healthy (knock wood) and nearby. Life is a feast!
9. My father's wisdom echoes in my mind: If you don't have a sense of humor, it's not funny!
With Gratitude,
JS
February 2022
