MOM, WE REALLY appreciate your cheering at our lacrosse games but ," my younger son paused as he searched for the right words. "You might want to think about what you're saying before you actually shout it across the stands, the field and the parking lot."
Puzzled, I tried to imagine what he was talking about. Granted, I am a somewhat verbal person, known for an occasional outburst of good-natured enthusiasm, but why would he want me to stifle that ebullience at a sporting match? Isn't that why they invented cheerleaders?
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes your cheering is just a little odd," he said. "For example, it doesn't really help our morale as a team when you bolt upright in your seat and announce in astonishment, 'He caught the ball! He caught the ball!' We're supposed to catch the ball, Mom. It's the purpose of the game."
I bit my lip and declined to note that if he caught the ball more often I wouldn't have been so amazed.
"And stop screaming, 'Call 911' every time someone takes a hit. It makes the other team think we're weak and scares the coach," he added.
Having gone from puzzled to peeved, I asked if there were any other problems he had with my presence at the game.
"Well, you could stop suggesting the Gopher mascot place shaving cream in his mouth so he looks rabid. And please don't lead the other parents in the 'Let My Son Play' chant. The team has threatened to beat me up on the bus," he noted.
Chastised, I pledged to exercise more control, limiting myself to one favorite cheer.
Go, Gophers. Beat -- anyone.
High school drama
The Glen Players present "David and Lisa," a poignant tale of human frailty and emotion, at 7 p.m. tomorrow and 7: 30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Glen Burnie High School drama studio.
Based on the book by Theodore Rubin, the play offers a story "told with laughter, heartbreak and suspense about problems totally alien to most of us, yet which should not be ignored," notes director and drama teacher Bill Smith.
Pat Baca is the technical director.
Seniors Andy Bonn and Donna Lupinos play the title roles, emotionally disturbed teens who meet while attending a special school. Lupinos brought the play to Smith's attention and suggested it for the spring drama performance.
"I first saw it when I was in seventh grade. and it inspired me to try the theater. It is a very strong play that touches your heart," said Lupinos.
The play was set in the early 1960s, but the theme is timeless and the script was updated to the present. In the play, David is unable to break through the emotional barriers he has created until he comes to trust Dr. Alan Swinford, played by Jeff Andrews, and Lisa, a schizophrenic with multiple personalities.
The role of David's mother, Mrs. Clemens, is played by senior Stephanie Knight, who notes that the play offers teens a chance to "see and understand alternatives to stereotypical relationships."
Other cast members are Sean McCormick, Mark Hagood, Tom McGonigal, Adam Anderson, Sean Kohlhepp, Kim Wooteon, Krista Hochreiter, Catrina Myers, Debbie Anthony, Alli Stillman, Pat Teakle, Lori Reed, Hana Lyn Colvin and Olivia Eggleston.
Admission is $4. The theater is in the Old Main building of the GBHS campus, 7550 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd.
Choir performance
The Concordia University Christus Chorus will perform at 7: 30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 308 Oak Manor Drive.
The choir, on tour from St. Paul, Minn., will sing songs based on the Lord's Prayer.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Information: church office, 410-766-2283.
Spring bazaar
Handcrafted gifts and homemade Easter treats will be sold at the annual spring bazaar held by the United Methodist Women of Messiah United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church, 7401 Furnace Branch Road.
Lunch will be served.
Information: Mary Holste, 410-761-0178.
Pub Date: 3/24/99