Nooooooooo.

We’ve been pulling together an alumni event at work focused on the college archives and dramatic society, basically showing a slideshow of old photos, reviews, and posters, plus staging a selection of scenes from plays that were part of past seasons in the 60s and 80s. It’s been pretty hectic and last-minute to say the least (3rd rewrite of the script today for a show in one day, 2 chances to run the entire show with everyone)…. in other words, we’ll just have to wing it!

My boss kept commenting “It’s just like the nineteenth century!” referring to the way plays were usually performed back in the day —one rehearsal the night before, leading star in late (this is a timeless phenomenon though), rest of the cast still learning lines, changes happening left right and centre, and the SM running around trying to pull together something halfway coherent (also a timeless task).

So comes the expression “wing it.” Actors would literally tape parts of their script in the wings so they could be learning them before their entrance. Then, if they forgot their lines on stage, they would have to find a way during the scene to go back towards the wings and surreptitiously peek at their cheat sheets. CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE. That image just cracks me up. Reminds me of a particular dramatic society production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that had a character called “Ye Old Script Boy” (she wore a sign) sitting on stage with the prompt book.

Spent the day on a ladder, working my biceps striking and hanging lights. Was a nice change from all the sitting I do in rehearsals! That’s gotta be my least favourite aspect of stage managing.

My job at my college’s theatre (and home to the drama society) is pretty much wrapping up at the end of this month. It’s quite sad to be leaving, because it’s very much been a second home to me the past 4 years. I remember being asked in my NTS interview what my “favourite theatre” was. At first I thought they were referring to a theatre company, but they meant an actual venue/physical space. To which personal attachment obviously answers the question. There will never be anything quite like the intimate, 180 seat, Stratford-modelled, practically backstageless (stage left wing? what stage left wing?) theatre-doubled-as-lecture-hall space in which I have worked so many shows, met so many incredible people, and discovered a true passion. In the same space I have played actor, director, stage manager, administrative assistant, and technician. Between the prolific, organised sink-or-swim chaos of the drama society, and the can-do-go-for-it attitude of my amazing manager, the groundwork has been laid —almost without me even realising it —for what I hope will be an eventful life and career backstage.

That’s why this theatre will always be my favourite.

I needed a day off like this.

At 4am I finally finished scheduling my rehearsals for 3 shows and shifts for 2 jobs for the rest of this month.

It’s actually looking less crazy than I thought it would. Nothing that a permanent  pitcher of sangria in the fridge can’t handle. 

:’)