Her Mother's Daughter

Last week the lobby at Grace's school was abuzz with all the thrill that goes with a theatrical "opening night". And, "closing night" too, by the way. The reason was the annual Christmas play starring 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. One performance. And Grace had a leading role.

Of course Grace knew her lines within the first 3 days of having the script. I was like that. Her dad? Not so much.

She also knew everyone elses lines. Again, like me. She had great poise on the stage. (Moi?) and a her acting was quite good (we'll throw this bone to Bob, although I have a box full of reviews and critic's awards...). Further, she flew into full diva mode prior to getting to the theatre (or in this case, school). Again, just like mama.

I felt waves of pride as I heard people sitting around me (whom I did not know) remark on how talented she was. When she sang her song, a woman behind me leaned toward her husband and said: "She can sing too?" (Like me, like me!)

So I felt positively deflated when everyone came up to me after the show and told me that "she really takes after her dad". Really!?

(It isn't about you, Valri.) Oh yeah. Hee, hee. I thought it was.

Kidding aside, the truth is, she was pretty good and everyone knew it. We have a lot of Hollywood living out here and I was approached by an actress of some note afterward, suggesting that she should have representation. Of course, everyone says that to everyone - but I think she was being sincere because we spoke at length about it.

I have never been big on children in the industry. I worked with kids in television and it was, for the most part, ugly. Not the kids, but the environment and what they had the potential to become. One need only view the recent performance crotch shots taken of our own Miley Cyrus to see the road most often taken by kids in the business.

And Grace is already DNA wired for high-octane drama (like her mother).

And when discussing the possibility of pursuing and agent for Grace with Bob and her sisters last night, she was unanimously voted by the family as "Most Likely to Let Something Like This Go to Her Head". And we can't have that. She might turn out just like her mother.