The play's the thing

The first play I remember being in was “School Days”, in Grade 6. I played the schoolteacher. I had to sing a song about students and their excuses for not doing their homework. I still remember the song. Our play director was also the choir director. He taught me how to project my voice to the back of the room. I was on the front page of the Advance on opening night!

I was bitten by the acting bug, to be sure. Moving into junior high and then on into high school, I was in the play every year. Sometimes I had a supporting role, but more often than not, I had a lead part. (I could project my voice, after all.) Only two of the plays stand out in my memory: “The Children’s Hour” (an edgy, progressive piece about two female schoolteachers accused of a romantic relationship, set in 1934) and “The Farm Show” (performance art and skits – I played the grandma standing in her washer, showing off her photo albums and delivering a lengthy monologue on family).

I loved the camaraderie of the cast. For weeks and months leading up to the performance dates, we learned our lines, developed our blocking and practiced reacting to each other. It was exciting to watch it all come together. Opening night was almost a let down, because it meant our fun was almost over.

Flash forward close to 40 years. I went to the NAC to see the musical “Come From Away” with my husband. At the end of it I was on my feet, laughing and cheering, with tears streaming down my face. I realized how much I missed being part of something like that. So, I signed up for the North Grenville Community Theatre’s spring production. Lucky for me, they had someone drop out and the part of Lady Catherine was available. It is a minor role, so I don’t have to test my powers of midlife memory too much.

First written in 1902, “The Admirable Crichton” is a story about the family of a manor house and their servants. The group goes on what is meant to be a short trip but they are caught in a storm and their yacht sinks. They end up on a desert island, where it soon becomes apparent that the serving class is far more equipped for survival than the Lord of the Manor and his daughters. It’s kind of a twist between Downton Abbey and Gilligan’s Island. Tickets are available online and will soon be at the B&H. We are on stage at The Urbandale Arts Centre May 24-28! Come on out and enjoy some community theatre.

-30-