life on the wand

Joyce has a good post about the pantomime we assisted with yesterday. I was asked to be in it about 10 days ago, but with a short trip to the US in between I really didn't have a chance to practice. I was told I would be in the chorus, so I thought they just needed more bodies to fill up the stage for the two chorus numbers. I only found out later when I read the programme that I was supposed to be one of the townies that didn't have a speaking role. I managed one rehearsal at the church building on Monday night. Thursday night after choir practice was the next practice. This was the first one at the village hall. When we got there the director wanted some of the curtains (tabs) moved around. So, I called John at home and had him bring a "spanner" (wrench) to the village hall and we proceeded to move things around. A short time later Philip showed up having just come from kickboxing practice in the youth centre right next door to the village hall. With only two ladders and three places that needed a person, I asked Philip to get up in the ceiling trusses and we got things moved where the director wanted them. We finally got the rehearsal going about an hour after we arrived. It starts with an opening chorus number. I went out on the stage with the rest of them, but realised the stage really wasn't big enough for all of us. So, that was the last number I danced on stage. From then on I hid behind the side tabs and just sang as loud as I could. The first scene change was right after the opening chorus number, and it was a disaster. I made the decision at that point that they really did need some stage hands, and I volunteered myself and my two sons to help out. We scrounged a copy of the script and talked to the stage manager and figured out what needed to be done. It kept all four of us quite busy at some times to pull off various gags and stunts (magic carpet was the best!). We had another rehearsal Friday night, which was interrupted between the two acts with a surprise birthday cake and a fish and chips dinner. My boys were real (read "NOT") excited about that. Saturday afternoon was the dress rehearsal, and Saturday night the performance. For some reason, Joyce and I got it in our heads that we needed to clean the carpet in the Bridge that same day. We spent virtually the entire time between the dress rehearsal and the production in the Bridge on hands and knees scrubbing the spots out of the carpet and using the hired carpet cleaner/shampooer. Then, after the production that evening, the cast went to a small Italian restaurant in Datchet for the after-show party. All I can say is that I am completely worn out today, and that I barely had a voice for singing in church this morning. This afternoon I had a nap, and then this evening we all went to an ecumenical (local definition: when the Baptist, Anglican, and Catholic churches in the village do something together) service at the Baptist church on Christian unity. The St. Mary's choir sang a couple of songs for the service.
0 comments