Well, it’s a wrap as they say. SOMETHING’S AFOOT is over. Of course I have for the last few hours been having those ever so familiar feelings of “aaahh, what a relief, I can have some of my life back!” mixed with “awh, it’s all over and we can’t do it any more, how sad, I’ll miss the friends, the fun and the fantasy!” It’s always a mixed bag of emotions when a show ends, sure we are glad to move on to doing some things around the house that need to get done or just catching up on the new TV line-up, but yet we will miss the nightly routine of the show since it seems that just as it’s getting to the point where it’s fun and easy, it’s all finished.
This was a great cast and we had a great run, allow me a bit of a rant here, probably the speech I should have made personally to the cast and crew but I held back, being tired and very emotional, I know I would have not been able to keep it together and get all the out but what they all deserve to hear. Tonight half the cast or so, the rest tomorrow after my first full day of rest…
My many most sincere and heartfelt thanks to:
Bob A, I had to call Bob and recruit him for this show, being a non-singer and asking him to sing a solo line and do some group singing and choreographed movement , well it was a tough sell, he was very reluctant but as each rehearsal went by I saw Bob dancing around more and more backstage with the numbers happening onstage, I wondered if secretly he wished he had been in a bigger part and had gotten to do more. Today he told me repeatedly how much fun he had been having, how glad he was he had done the show and it overall had been a very good experience… that made me feel good! He did an excellent job, had a great death, very funny, was that nightly applause? he definitely made it his own, loved getting “gassed” more and more each night and taking a face full or mouth full of blue or green fairy dust powder! We won’t mention the night he didn’t hand me his Dr. bag or his plugging in the vacuum and discovering it was switched on. Thanks again to him for pitching in and helping out backstage so much wherever he was needed, that’s the true spirit, right?
Linda R, what a honor it actually was to have her reprising her role of 29 years ago, guess that’s a testimonial to the family and community of people we have at FCT. Always funny, still in good voice and looking as good as ever from her first entrance, even in the Lucy wig I gave her to wear, she stole Act I with her vampy seductress song, how she can work a boa! And I don’t know how to even mention her self-adjusting wardrobe maneuvers or how she can turn a sash into a marital aid! It is always fun to work with good old friends!
John A, despite a tough rehearsal schedule, and the scary moments we had during and after the hospitalization, and the decisions that I HAD to make at that time, thanks for putting it together and sticking with it no matter how bad you felt. What a trooper, committed and dedicated, sure there were lines that were rewritten nightly, some blocking ..questionable and sometimes it was hard to keep up the energy and stay focused but regardless, you made it to that third step every night just in time to get bonked! You are a great black sheep!
Tim B, wow, you do so much, so many times, whenever and whatever is asked of you, thank you, thank you, thank you! From nearly every set construction day, rehearsals and taking on special projects all over the theatre, your just a blessing to a guy like me that needs so much help. Your performance is always right on, giving 100% effort to make every moment your on stage the best it can be for every audience member, time after time, it is such a pleasure to watch you and know that the show is in good hands while your on stage. Your timely death is proof that your comedic timing is always guaranteed. Then I have to acknowledge your commitment to non theatre related issues like my leaking tires, I guess my priorities get easily screwed up when I’m trying to get a show ready, but how much easier my life will be now with my director’s gift in trunk, thank you!
So many things to say about the wonderful time we had during the show, I plan for it to maybe take me a few days, so check back, plus we have all the new news of IT”S A WONDERFUL LIFE to talk up between now and Dec., until then..
…and now, On With the Show !