Well, ds has decided to stay on for the time being! He really got into the spirit of things in the run up to the performances and for the shows themselves. I had a feeling he was re thinking it as he got a bit quiet about his leaving plans, then a day before the first show, he announced to me that he wanted to stay on. I am really delighted as he did this off his own bat, without me nagging him to reconsider.
Between now and christmas there will be no pressure as there won't be any performance rehearsals, just saturday morning workshops and outings. New boys will be joining the group and hopefully they'll stay. As long as everything seems ok, ds says he's up for being in the next show in the spring.
I am really glad about this, as I think ds1 would have missed the friends he has made and in the winter, especially, the drama group provides a very welcome activity.
However, these last months have made me realise that ds1 is now too old to be pushed into attending drama or anything else - it's his choice to go. But the deal I have with ds is if he says 'yes' to the next show, he must go to rehearsals willingly and regularly - I've said to him that it's my job to make sure he goes to them as much as he possibly can.
However, I think it is at times a huge commitment and there is no way I would want it to jeopardise ds1's school work or his well being. I do feel uneasy that, at times, some of the leaders expect so much from the young cast. IMO it tips the experience too far from fun and inspirational into being angst-ridden and a struggle. I will have no hesitation in talking to the leaders if I think they are driving ds1 (and the rest of the cast) too hard.
As for the shortened Officer Krumpke song, when I saw the show at the weekend, I still think cutting it was a mistake.