Want to hear how a football team derailed a promising stage career?
In what way?
Okay. That was an exaggeration. But it got your attention, didn’t it?
True.
Try this instead. A football team’s successful season kept me from trying out for a part in a musical production.
How did that happen?
First, a little background. During my junior year at Bucknell, my roommate, George B, talked me into joining him in trying out for the Mixed Chorus. It performed Handel’s Messiah each holiday season. We both joined it and sang bass in the chorus for two years.
But George was also involved with the college drama club, working with sets and props. And in the fall of our senior year he learned that the club in the spring would be putting on the musical, The Student Prince.
Sounds familiar.
That’s the one where one of the students sings “The Drinking Song.”
Drink. drink, drink
To eyes that are bright as stars
When they’re shining on me.
Okay.
Well, tryouts for the show were scheduled for the following Monday. George wanted me to try for a role as a student in the chorus.
And what did you say?
I resisted. Not being very confident I could do it. But finally I gave in. Okay, I told him. I’ll audition on Monday.
Now here’s the connection. That year, 1951, Bucknell had a very good football team
The Bison team had won all of its games so far. Saturday was the ninth and final game. And the team won that one too. They had a perfect season.
Still don’t see the connection.
Well, there was reason to celebrate. And they did. The students even paraded in the streets.
Enthusiasm was so high that the administration declared that all classes would be canceled on Monday. And all activities. Including tryouts for The Student Prince.
Oh.
I had somehow worked up my confidence to the point that I would have shown up to audition that Monday. But I couldn’t do it all over again when the tryouts were rescheduled. And so my budding theatrical career was sidetracked.
I see.
Say, I wonder. For “The Drinking Song,” do you think they served real beer?
I’ll never know.