When Mother Was A Star

  

    
     In the late twenties, Papa's sister Mary would suggested that Mother play the part of the boy in the St. Joseph's School play.  In those days, the Catholic schools would not allow the boys and girls to be in a play together.  Aunt Mary thought Mom had such a husky voice and she was quite the thespian and loved to act.  It turned out that Mother got the part and the nuns and teachers thought she was great.

    Later on, when Mother was 18, it was talent show time at the Warren Struther's Library Theatre.  Mother heard that the talent company from out of town, was looking for locals to hold rehearsals and tryouts.  Mother was very excited, because of her natural talent for adventure.  She asked Grandpa and Grandma Critelli if she could go to the theatre in town and audition.  Grandma knew that Mother had a natural talent for high kicking and loved to dance; so Grandma gave Mother her consent.  The show that performed was of a vaudeville nature.  The director searched for twelve nicely shaped girls who had the ability to kick high, and stay in rhythm with the music.  Mother then tried out with the rest of the girls, and she had a alot of fun displaying her high kicks to the director and choreographer.  The director liked what he saw in Mother and he hired her for one of the chorus girls.  The song that Mother and the girls danced to, was "Doodily Doo," which went like this: Please play for me that sweet melody called doodily doo, doodily doo...."

     Papa went to the show and it was the first time he really noticed her.  Papa and Mother had been neighbors on the same street.  As Papa watched the shapely girls dance on the stage, his eyes were fixed on Mother and her high kicking.  He leaned over and asked his friends with him:

     "Who is that pretty and attractive girl?"  She looks like one of the Critelli's down the street from me," said Papa with a gleam in his eye.

     "Yes she is, her name is Kathryn," said one of Papa's friends.

     Papa's sister Mary always commented that Mother had the prettiest legs of the Critelli girls.  I inherited my love of dancing from Mother, and my ability to balance and pick up new steps.  Mother encouraged me to take dancing lessons when I was young.  My greatest love then was the Ballet and Mother was proud of my talent.  I also inherited from Mother, the love of old musicals, movies, and movie stars.

    Papa would take Mother, my sister Sandy and I too the movies on weekends, and Mother would recall when she danced on that Struther's Stage.