Granny’s Basic Metaphysicals

“Beans n’ cabbage is good fer ya, even if the neighbors don’t think so.” Yep, this is one of my ‘Granny’ character’s basic metaphysicals’.

People often ask me when Granny developed into the totally outrageous person that they watch on stage. So here is the beginning of the tale, one of many chapters …

For those who saw our shows at Fort Steele BC, you would know Granny well. She played the bagpipes, fired off a gun, led the slapstick barbershops, taught the audiences how to milk a cow, directed her own barnyard-style melodrama, danced in shindigs and tried to teach her nephew, Underarm Tom, (the loveable character played by my husband, Tink Robinson) not to be ‘sceered of the dark’. Granny brings out the outrageous spontaneity in all of us and she certainly gets away with far more zaniness than I could!

The beginnings of Granny began much earlier than you think. My first influence was my own Grandmother (we called her ‘Mammy’) who taught me elocution (speaking) when I was 9 years old. She always had some funny poems in her purse which she just happened to pull out and perform on any occasion.

When Mammy was 80, she entered herself in the speech class for the Kiwanis Festival in Calgary, Alberta. She won over the hearts of everyone present. The alarm system went off right in the middle of her piece, so she did what came naturally and entertained the audience until it was fixed.

And you should have heard her whistle! Dad said he could hear it from the other side of town. When she laughed, she would chortle on the out-breath and snort on the intake. Mammy would have a good old ‘chinwag’ with anyone, no matter what their station in life. Once she went into the Banff Springs Hotel lobby and showed her freshly caught trout to all the guests.

Thinking back on my drama training I realize, that of all the characters I played, I loved the grandmas the most. Tink says he is lucky because now he gets to sleep with a real one!

At the National Theater School in Montreal, Quebec, and Stratford, Ontario, I learned from the most incredible teachers in diction, voice development, improvisation, movement and acting.  One jolly feisty character I created one summer at Stratford was called Nelly Butterbaum.

My present day Granny was created for our shows in the Wild Horse Theater at Heritage Fort Steele, BC. Tink wrote the script and songs while I notated and arranged the harmonies. We hired our cast from across the country, began directing the rehearsals in mid June and performed 12 shows a week all summer long. I would start each show as Granny, then do a complete makeup change back to me and rush to get into the Granny costume again.

One time I was all decked out in my 1890’s gown and wig ready to go on stage, when just at the last second, I noticed that I had forgotten to erase the blackened teeth!

After the show the cast would go outside the theater to sign autographs. Audiences could never believe that Granny and that ‘singing-lady-in-the-beautiful-gown’ were one and the same!

People who lived and worked in the east Kootenays were thrilled that we brought in major tourist dollars.

One summer season, the CIBC manager in the nearby city of Cranbrook, BC, asked me, Tink and our theater cast if we would come to the bank in costume on our day off to interact with the staff and patrons. During that busy lunch hour, Granny pretty much took over the bank. She hauled the loans officer out to the front and announced that he was giving out free money.

She even went behind the counter to check that the tellers were doing their jobs. Granny greeted patrons as they entered and was ‘tickled pink’ to meet a little 94-year-old lady called Mrs. Cox. Granny took her all the way up to the front of the long line, introducing her to everyone along the way.

In 1989, we resigned from Fort Steele, but Granny and Underarm Tom continue on. We still use these characters in our workshops and Life-Lifts. In the early 90’s, we brought our characters to schools, entertaining children from kindergarten to K6. It was these young ones who inspired us to write and record ‘KIDS (for all ages)’.

For three more summer seasons in the mid 90’s, Tink and I wrote, directed and performed with students and children at the Carriage House Theater in Cardston, Alberta. We have never seen so many talented musicians, actors and dancers all in one small community!

The songs we wrote and recorded for ‘KIDS (for all ages)’ teach universal messages through lively rhythms, catchy tunes and humor. Granny and Underarm Tom sing four of the songs on the CD and Tink and I do the rest. Learning through music and rhythm improves many life skills such as coordination, creativity, cooperation, self-worth and concentration.

One of the popular songs from this recording is “I Know Enough to Know That I’m OK”, a real confidence builder with a message for kids from 2 to 92.

We get everyone involved adding props and movement. There is nothing like singing, dancing and having a good old belly laugh to lighten the mood!

As Granny would say, “Life goes by quicker, if ya jest learn t’ snicker, and don’t git yer knickers in a knot!”

 

 

To listen to a clip of our song, “I Know Enough to Know That I’m OK” –  CLICK HERE  Or to download a copy of the song for yourself,  GO HERE

Want to  Hire a Granny?  CLICK HERE

P.S. Check out my brand NEW ‘From Spirit to Story to Song’ Website Home  for more fun and inspirational stories. 

While you are there, download my song and FREE Gift for you, “Give Yourself Love”.

 

© Judy Armstrong 2013