All The World's Indeed A Stage

And we are merely players. Performers and Portrayers. With apologies to Rush, one of my favorite bands..

When it comes to being a Grandpa I am a softie. I know that comes as a shock but it's true. I just can't say no to my grandchildren. Nor can I resist an idea if I think it will make them happy. For proof I offer our latest project. You can click to enlarge any of the photos.

I'm sure most of you remember the Pirate Ship we built for them a couple of years ago. Well, they're a little older and much of the ship is really no longer used. They do love to put on plays and such though so a re-think was in order. I decided what was needed was a stage and the best place for it was the prow of the ship.

We started by tearing the old prow off and straightening out the two 2x6s that defined the edges.

I then completed the rectangle and propped it up with 4x4 legs so the floor was level. I put in some floor joists and then skinned the whole thing with some plywood I took off the ceiling in the kidsroom remodel.

I had some old half inch knotty pine boards I took off the walls in the laundry room that was perfect for the stage floor. That went over the plywood with screws.

I put in a corner made out of 2x6s and skinned it with some more of that knotty pine.

I then stretched another 2x6 as a header from the corner to the ship. That allowed me to hide a curtain rod, a piece of 1 inch PVC we had laying around. Lu had some curtains that she no longer had a need for that were perfect for a stage curtain.

A view from insiude the ship, behind the stage curtain.

Lu has some old fashioned wooden folding chairs for the audience seating.

We'll put some more curtains on the widnow in thew ship so the kids can use it as their 'dressing room'.

An actor of the canine variety gives the new stage a test. Along with an extra of course. How did he get in there?

All in all I think it came out pretty well. Lu, DO and MIL all gave it their blessing so I guess it's Ok. There's a little more paint to do and the header to decorate but this is pretty much the final product. And it didn't cost us a dime. We had everything we needed. A few nails and some screws along with some sweat equity was the sun total of our investment in this project.

The kids love to put on productions and I can't wait to see what they come up with on this visit. Pictures and a story will surely be forthcoming. This is going to be fun!

Six