This essay relates to a recent A Theatre Group performance of the play, ”The Curious Savage”. What a great experience!!                                                      Word Count: 858

“Ah-Ah-Perspective”

Two weeks ago, I found myself deeply entrenched in final rehearsals for a community play that when all was said and done, turned out to be one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve been through in quite some time. In fact, and at this point and having had an additional two weeks to digest things since the production ended, I feel it necessary to state emphatically that all that work to get ready for the play, then performing it to rousing, live, audiences allows me to theorize this was probably more fun than some people experience in an entire year. I have no written, documented, evidence to support my claim. Then again, I do have circumstantial evidence to support this latest declaration of mine.

Here’s some of that circumstantial evidence for you; The genesis for the performance of this play first came about as the result of two things. The first, in March of 2013 when the local theatre group, in conjunction with the school, put on a joint performance of a western comedy. I was a performer in this production and it proved to be both a rewarding, as well as fun experience. The second occurred eight years later in early August of last year, a group of us carried out a play reading that also proved to be more fun than most people should be allowed to partake of. One thing led to another, and pretty soon my buddy (who happens to be an aspiring playwright) asked if I’d be interested in getting involved in putting on the play. The local theatre group hadn’t done anything in a while, so performing before a live audience seemed like the right thing to do and this was just the play to be staged. The guy must’ve also known that I’m just the odd-ball, eccentric, type to get involved in these sorts of things. Easily manipulated? Of course, I am…

Then in late July, we started putting things together and rehearsals started. Pre-production soon turned into full blown preparation and I’m happy to say none of us wanted the play to turn into a, ”Waiting for Guffman,” type of production. In the play put on in that movie, the production the characters perform proves to be a somewhat amateurish, unproven stage performance.

No, our play wasn’t going to be something thrown together at the last minute, with cast members forgetting their lines on a regular basis (which is every time they set foot on stage). This is followed by actors randomly staring blindly into space like a deer transfixed in the headlights. The playwright’s efforts were too well written, the overall structure of the play just too good, and I’m thoroughly convinced everyone in our cast wanted to put their best foot forward because of these factors. I’m proud of this and will always treasure that aspect of the experience.

The gravity of the situation really hit home for me when we came to rehearsals one night and a fellow cast member started performing their lines without their book in hand (prior to Off-Book Night no less…). Oh my god, all of a sudden-things were really getting serious. Although none of us was getting paid for our work, let’s all swerve into the professional lane for practices during the next three weeks.

Pretty soon I’m memorizing lines while cleaning toilets and mowing lawns during my regular Parks-n-Rec. job. Then I’m helping out when we started rounding up props and getting costuming together. All of a sudden, this play is becoming an all-consuming passion with rehearsals that took up to 4 ½ hours, finding less and less time to do the writing (at least in my case…), and even helping out with advanced ticket sales to friends, family, and selected enemies.

Then Opening Night snuck up on us (actually in no way did any of this sneak up on us…). This was a rousing success. People in the audience loved the play, and one of the best ways to stroke your ego is if you happen to be acting in a local theatre production and people rave about your performance after they’ve seen you in action and loved it. Maybe psychiatrists should figure out a way to prescribe this as a form of treatment for their patients? On the other hand, this might not work so well if the audience ends up talking about the depth of your performance ineptitude?

My only complaint about the play? I jumped all over our Director about the fact that we only did three performances of the play when we should’ve done at least 4 or 5. Things just came to a screeching halt and the night after our last performance (which was a matinee…), one would’ve thought my house had just burned down with my dog trapped inside.

Help is on the way… The Director informs me that the Theatre Group wants to do a few more plays next summer (Professional productions without the money exchange-what a concept?). Once again, another golden opportunity presents itself to act on stage with its subsequent ego stroking. Can’t wait for the opportunity…