A Damn Fine Run

   And so it ends.  

 

   I had not been involved in live theatre since high school.  In fact, the closest I had been was a read through on a first draft of an historical play. 

 

   Then, not long ago, a friend of a friend insisted that I audition for A Christmas Carol.  I was not initially thrilled with the idea.  The work’s strong Christian theme hardly suits my personal system of beliefs.  The troupe producing the play is largely unheard-of.  The venue leaves a bit to be desired. 

 

   Nonetheless, audition I did.  I was cast as the Ghost of Christmas Present in a version of the story that turned out to suit my temperament rather more than I expected.  Director

David Hutson adapted his version from the original text, carefully endeavoring to stay as true as possible to Dickens’ words.  Indeed, virtually every word in the play comes directly from the author.

 

   The play was presented in story theatre style, with the ghosts of Past, Present and Future acting as narrators.  My part was large enough to be rather intimidating.  I was more than a little concerned that I might lose myself in the deluge of lines.  The character himself was a little hard to wrap my brain around, as I am hardly the festive type, and never less so than at Christmas.

 

   But I learned the lines, and largely delivered them rightly.  I adopted a character somewhere between the elation of survival against the odds and an elemental of winter.  I found my place.

 

   The set was an amazing piece of theatrical engineering, and I am proud to have helped put it up, and to have dressed it.  In fact, I am proud to have been a part of the production at all.

 

   But most of all, I am proud to have worked with a terrific cast and staff.  From the director to the stagehands, from the lead actor to the bit players, it was an honor and a pleasure to work with one and all.

 

   Most of all, my thanks and appreciation go out to Phil Brady, Rachael Brooks, and Lucas and David Hutson, all people with whom I have spent prodigious blocks of time over the last few months.  It has been wonderful working with you.

 

   And, alas, I have caught the bug again.  I will be back, and look forward to acting, directing and set building more than a little in the future.

 

   This play has been as exhausting as rewarding.  Nothing good is ever easy, and nothing easy’s ever good. 

 

   My hat’s off to each and every one of us!  May there be a thousand perfect performances in our future!