 |
| "All is prepared for sealing and for signing!" A scene in the middle of Act I |
The Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The
Sorcerer closed yesterday, leaving me with a crippling case of post-show-depression
this evening. Twenty four hours ago we would have just taken our bows and I’d
be running into the foyer to hug friends and listen to their congratulations
and thank them for coming to see the show (seriously, to anyone who came to see
the show—thanks so much! It means the world to me that you came out and enjoyed
it).
 |
| Myself and Peter Sutton as John Wellington Wells-- the Sorcerer |
The Sorcerer was a very different show than Iolanthe.
Set in the village of Ploverleigh in the west of England, the plot is a mix of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream and Doctor Faustus. Alexis and Aline are
about to get married and so they decide that everyone in the village should also
be in love. Enlisting the help of John Wellington Wells, the local sorcerer,
they concoct a love potion which causes everyone in the village to fall asleep…
and then fall in love with the first person they see. Mayhem ensues, resulting
in the death of the sorcerer, but the eventual happiness of everyone else.
 |
| Some fine ladies of Ploverleigh... and an unexpected visitor |
I was a chorus member and choreographer for the show,
which was great fun. Though The Sorcerer isn’t my favourite G&S
operetta, the chorus has some fun songs and is onstage for a substantial amount
of time. We also had some acting to do (falling in—and out!— of love) as well
as some semi-complicated blocking/dance, so the show presented a bit of a
challenge even though I wasn’t a principal.
 |
| The Lady Sangazure (left) condescends to pose with the lower classes |
Thankfully, the show isn’t really quite over. On May 3rd,
St. Andrew’s is hosting Scotland’s celebrations of the International Gilbert
and Sullivan Day, which include speeches, a three course dinner, and a
promenade performance of The Sorcerer through the town. Then, in August,
we’re taking the show to the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in
Harrogate (in the north of England). These performances won’t be the same, of
course, but still… it’s a chance to revisit Ploverleigh and sing all the songs
again!
 |
| Upper class ladies of Ploverleigh |
What I’ll really miss, though, are the people. There’s really nothing that brings people together like being in a show. When the final curtain went down and I realized that I’d likely never perform with many of these people again… I just didn’t know how to deal. It’s been absolutely magical to inhabit the fictional world of Ploverleigh with all these friends and so very hard to leave.
 |
| My stage husband, Ronan |
But. BUT. This is far too pessimistic a view of acting.
Yes, it’s tough when a show’s over. It’s hard to tear myself away from the
people and the music and the costumes and the lights and the story… but there
are more stages to tread, and more characters to play, and more stories to
tell.
Yes, I’m sad The Sorcerer is over. But, in the
end, I’m even happier that it was a part of my life. Thank you so much to the
cast and crew—you were all fantastic, and I’m honoured to have worked alongside
you.
 |
| The entire chorus (points for spotting me!) |
Your pictures look amazing, I can only imagine that its a great show! I will look out for it on London theatre tickets! Have fun!
ReplyDelete