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Liesl needed someone older and wiser, telling her what to do(ooo), and the bastards stomped her.

I’m sorry this happened, Troy. I’m inclined to agree with Leo. That type of thoughtless superiority, when inflicted on a child for crying out loud, speaks to some kind of deep, underlying pathology. It crushes me to think of how common this probably is, and of all the gifts and beauty that are denied shape and form in the world thanks to it… So grateful that you prevailed and that you share your voice today.

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The crazy thing is I played Rolf in our 7th grade production ::)) It is a real shame what happened, but my more recent experience - while irritating and ridiculous - made me realize both that I'm now absolutely able to identify bullshit when I see it, and that it was time to tell the story from so long ago. I'm volunteering with a new editing program that provides feedback to writers and our first principle: Feedback should encourage more writing, not shut it down. Thanks, Chloe!!!

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That’s such a beautiful, and important, first principle. And I imagine that you were a spectacular Rolf :)

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I was a spectacular Rolf! 😇It helped that my Liesl was a 5th grader who actually was in love with me... 🤣

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5th grade method acting, I’m devastated I missed the production! 💕

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hahaha! it was a short-lived affair, i only had eyes for the captain

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Amen to that. If they ever let us DM on here remind me to tell you my Von Trapp story…

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Oh my goodness, *starts frantic letter writing campaign to Substack*...

Charmian Carr was at our Sing-a-Long SoM at the Castro Theater in SF years ago, and she got up and said Julie Andrews was a total bitch and there was a collective gasp of shock and delight from the audience, but then she said she was joking... It was a hoot, and of course I knew all the words of every song.

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It’s the kind of story best told over cocktails, so let’s just wait until we meet ;)

I can’t believe you got to sing-along with Liesl herself! What a dream! And I’ll never not appreciate the ‘Julie Andrew’s was actually a bitch’ joke, it’s the perfect ratio of scandalous and absurd ☺️

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