In 2009 I was asked to direct a rock musical for a charity event. They did over the top live band musicals for charity with a heavy amount of drinking. (These shows started at a university) I had done one of these shows two years earlier and I jumped at the chance to be steering the ship. The show is a mash-up of two well-known pop culture tv shows or movies. My show was "Arrested Housewives".

It became quite clear to me by the 2nd week that it is way more fun to be in the show rather than to direct the show. I felt like there was a galaxy between what the cast wanted, what the production team wanted and my vision. My vision she says fully knowing that my vision was being entrusted to 12 performers whose job it was to get so drunk on stage that they were barely doing the show anymore. (this is a group of University students).

Since I was doing a spoof on Arrested Development, I thought it would be hilarious to have flash paper used in the show. (because there is a character who is a magician) If you don't know what flash paper is, it is a flammable very thin paper that ignites instantly for a brilliant flash flame when touched by a match.

I was very excited about doing this, but the production team was dead against it. I was livid. I fought the whole meeting; my argument was that it would be hilarious and was so in line with the character. Plus, it was spectacular and who doesn't love a spectacle. Their argument was that it was dangerous for actors who might be too drunk to secure a spectacle.

As the director, I got the final call and after about 30 minutes going back and forth, I finally stood up said "I am late for rehearsal, this is happening, you cannot stop me, there will be a spectacle and it will be spectacular." and stormed off. (full moon, Gemini, dragon) I stormed downstairs at the Tranzac Club into rehearsal and sat down with my flash paper in hand and gathered the entire cast. It was a full house because the band was in that day too for musical rehearsal.

"Okay guys, who knows what flash paper is?"

Nobody. Nothing. Silence. Crickets.

I was shocked, "What?" I sat down opened a full pack of new flash paper, about 40 sheets. (that is 80 magic tricks) "Okay, well it is very cool, and I want to use it in the show, but the production team thinks it is too dangerous and so I am going to train you how to use it and then we can prove to them they are wrong, wrong, and more wrong. Plus, this is going to be worth it and I didn't just spend 46 dollars of my own money, not to mention the fact it is going to be hilarious, and I think we all know comedy is a risk." *subtext 'I am the smartest person I know so please everyone start listening to me.'

The cast gathered closer.

"So basically you take this one thin piece of paper and you rip it in half, then you take this lighter and you just light it" and I lit it, and what would normally happen is it would light instantly on fire, the fire would move up from the bottom of the paper to the top and go out, hence 'flash paper' The whole thing should have taken 3 seconds.

But instead what happened was, I left the entire 40 piece pack of flash paper folded on my knee and instead of standing I was sitting and instead of ripping it in half I used the whole piece for effect, so after it was lit, it didn't actually get enough height so the flash flame didn't a chance to go out before it hit the full pack sitting on my leg and the whole pack in a massive bright light of a 1000 suns caught fire. It caught my leg on fire, it caught the bottom of my braids on fire, and that caught my inner thighs on fire, it set the girl's bangs on fire sitting in front of me and that caught someone's bag on fire and that started the carpet on fire. It only lasted about 16 seconds but, in that time, damage was done. An entire cast and 12-piece band stood shocked staring at me.

When it was all over, I stood up and calmly walked towards the bathroom and, as cool as possible holding the hand of my friend whose face I had nearly burnt off, explained to everyone why we won't be doing flash paper in this year’s show.

Natasha Boomer is a Reiki Master, Massage Intuitive, Chakra Balancer, Oracle Card Reader, Seeker, Playwright, Speaker, Teacher, Improviser, Comedian, Volunteer Coordinator.

Lover of sci-fi, sushi, pakoras, kimchi, and cats. (I also may have a slight problem with vegan mayonnaise, salt lamps and teas.)

I cut my own bangs.

You can reach her at https://www.takeyourmarkhealingarts.com/about_us ​