If you think Sidney CrosbyB次元官网网址檚 tough, wait until you hear about Royal Bay secondaryB次元官网网址檚 Makyla Charlie, a budding young actress with a starring role in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 current production of Urinetown.
Charlie suffered an injury last week while performing a dance scene in a dress rehearsal, just two days before the productionB次元官网网址檚 five-show run was set to begin.
B次元官网网址淪he kind of tripped and slid B次元官网网址� we got her seated and gave her first-aid,B次元官网网址� said the schoolB次元官网网址檚 theatre director, Melissa Young. B次元官网网址淲e originally thought that it was a bad sprain, but it started to swell up and she ended up going to the emergency.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was a little bit painful, but I was mostly in shock,B次元官网网址� Charlie recalled.
Just after midnight Young got the bad news: CharlieB次元官网网址檚 ankle was broken and would soon require surgery.
The diagnosis was a crushing blow for the Grade 12 student, who has been accepted into the Oak Bay-based Canadian College of Performing Arts. Charlie auditioned for the role way back in September and has been keenly preparing for the part ever since.
B次元官网网址淚 was devastated. I thought there was no way I was going to be able to do it anymore and that just made me really, really upset because IB次元官网网址檝e worked so hard on it and I was really looking forward to it,B次元官网网址� she said.
And with Charlie cast in the key role of Little Sally, Young had to come up with a back-up plan as the showB次元官网网址檚 premiere neared.
B次元官网网址淚t was going to be me having to go on,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚 really didnB次元官网网址檛 want to do it by any means.B次元官网网址�
On May 3, the night after the injury, Charlie returned to the set and performed her role from a wheelchair for the musicalB次元官网网址檚 final dress rehearsal. The part was modified slightly to explain away her injury, but Young said Charlie took everything in stride and performed admirably.
The saga took another turn following that show, as Charlie was unexpectedly called in for surgery for the next day.
With the premiere scheduled for 7:00 Thursday night, it was touch-and-go as to when Charlie would be released from hospital and whether sheB次元官网网址檇 be able to perform. She woke up at 5 p.m.
B次元官网网址淚 was so out of it, but as soon as I woke up (I said) B次元官网网址榞et me upstairs, I need to get my mom so I can get my makeup and start getting ready,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.
She was discharged from Victoria General at 6:45 p.m., frantically finished her makeup in the car, and was on stage roughly 30 minutes later.
B次元官网网址淲e all know that she is an incredible young lady and incredibly committed to the process and committed to the show, but we were a little bit surprised,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭o just come out of surgery and to do a show like that, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty remarkable.
B次元官网网址淪he went out and gave a fantastic performance. You would never know that she had just had surgery.B次元官网网址�
Young could also sense how much it meant to CharlieB次元官网网址檚 castmates to have her there.
B次元官网网址淭hey were so excited when we came in and said that she was on her way B次元官网网址� A big cheer erupted in the theatre,B次元官网网址� she said.
Charlie is grateful for everyoneB次元官网网址檚 help and support, from her friends and family to teachers, castmates and hospital staff.
SheB次元官网网址檒l remain in a cast for two to three months and admitted the timing of the injury could have been better.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really bad, because prom is coming up and grad B次元官网网址� I really need to work over the summer to pay for school, but I canB次元官网网址檛 work until June or July, so thatB次元官网网址檚 a little hard, but it is what it is,B次元官网网址� she said.
Charlie and the rest of the Urinetown cast will be on stage for two more performances at Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 Teechamitsa Theatre, Thursday and Friday night at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or from the school office.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
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