A Year In Redwood

When we lived in Dublin I loved to go to the theatre – it was always such a great night out.  I never had any ambitions to get involved on stage though.

However, since we moved here 7 years ago, I have been asked a few times would I like to join the local drama group?  My answer has always been the same…. no way!  I would help out whatever way I could behind stage, but there is absolutely no way I would go out on stage.

I admire those who have that ‘gene’ that 1. gives them the brain to remember the lines, and 2. gives them the confidence to go and roll play!  But it is most definitely not me!

Last year, Alfie got involved in set building, so this year it was my turn to help out.

I started out life as a ‘prompter’ – boy, does this require concentration.  If someone misses their line, you are frantically scanning to find where they have jumped to!  It can play havoc with the nerves.

However, due to work and family commitments I missed a couple of rehearsal nights, so on returning to the fold, I was nominated as Backstage Manager!  Now doesn’t that sound important :)?  Thankfully, there are only 8 members of the cast – so my management skills are not too stretched!

My backstage duties involve getting people out on stage on cue and busy pouring whiskey (red lemonade), beer (ginger ale), and making pots of tea – and remembering how much sugar to put into each cup!  It is fun!  This is my little cubby-hole behind stage!

We had a terrific run last weekend – three nights of full house, and next weekend the play will run on Friday and Saturday night – both these nights for charity.  So maybe if you’re in the North Tipperary area you might like to come along!  It is a great, funny play – A Wake in the West.

See you there!