I wrote earlier about Myron’s propensity for costume, which is still with us today. Also lately, he has been interested in listening to audio stories and retelling them, especially the silly parts. Most of the time he does this in the bathroom while we are wrapping up dinner, so we hear a dinner theater performance.

A couple of years ago, I looked up theater camps that would accept young kids. Most camps start at age 6, but there was one theater camp nearby that took kids starting at age 5. So I waited for two years and then signed him up at the first opportunity.

Apparently he was reserved at first and sat up in the stands while other kids were doing introductory activities. The teacher said her approach was to treat him like a cat and let him engage on his own terms. Eventually he started answering questions from the bleachers and then he interacted more. Also Em reported that Myron didn’t use the bathroom at all during these full days of camp since he didn’t feel comfortable with their toilets, so he would come home and explode.

Em and I got to watch and document the final performance. Em made Myron use the bathroom for the first and last time there right before it was time to go on stage, so that he could perform without peeing his pants.

The campers performed a charming rendition of The Rainbow Fish. Myron played the octopus, which the teacher said was a very important role.

The performers made a sea star formation by lying on the floor in a radial pattern.

Myron delivering his line as the octopus

Myron in octopus costume

I picked up a copy of The Rainbow Fish book from the library, and Myron put Molly’s shiny fish toy over the fish on the cover.

Click through to the post to view the full performance. Myron shouted his line in the play and shouted his “I’m Myron, and I’m the octopus” credit at the end. I’m guessing the way this went down is that he spoke very quietly in rehearsal at first and the teacher told him to speak louder, so that’s what he did.