Reminiscing about my theatre days opens the memory floodgates! Oh, the joys of live theatre!
Waaaaaay back in, I think, the 80s (1980s, not 1880s; I’m not THAT old!}, our community theatre mounted a production of “Man of LaMancha”. Wow!!
First of all, the actors were so perfect for their roles. Amazing voices! I worked sound on the show. My amazing view from the bridge allowed me a bird’s eye view of Cervantes/Don Quixote as he died. His eyes actually rolled up in his head as he fell backwards. No matter how many times I witnessed this, I could not watch without tears! And, before the show, as he walked around backstage preparing, we could not speak to him. “Hello, Gary” did not work. He was already Cervantes.
A couple of backstage stories to share…. The horses, as I recall, were two 2-person teams. One of those persons (half a horse worth) apparently, per rumor, may have had substance issues of a disorienting nature. And one day, he did not show up for curtain call…or at all that day. Stage manager Susie did an outstanding job as half a horse that day!
During that phase of my life, we were busy at home putting a full basement under our hundred-year old house. On a budget. After “LaMancha” closed, the set director gracious allowed us to take the dungeon stairs from the set to use to get to our new basement. (Still using them!)
When my husband and I saw the show from the front row, during “The Impossible Dream” Aldonza’s voice suddenly cracked. She managed a small cough, then continued to sing. But I noticed that her hand seemed to be fisted by her side. Later at the cast party, she had not arrived. We learned that the muleteers, when carrying her offstage, had tied to gag too tight and broken a crown. She had almost choked on it during the song. Fortunately, George, who was running lights that night, was also a dentist. He whisked her away to his office across the street from the theatre and installed a temporary crown! And they made it to the party!
Aaaahhhh, the memories……
Great stories!! Who played Don Quixote ? That must have been before I started getting active there.
Gary Taylor. Spencer Leuenberger was Sancho.