I mean you don’t really want to be reading about the start of my five-day lockdown do you?
I didn't think so.
As an enthusiastic member of Echuca-Moama Theatre Company, I recently welcomed back musical theatre to the twin towns.
As such, we started rehearsals at the start of the month for our highly anticipated production which was cancelled last year.
Little Shop of Horrors is back - I hope – for a second attempt after COVID-19 restrictions turned everything to shite in 2020.
We have since had a few new cast members join us after one of our originals went and got knocked up and popped out a baby and two others moved away. Selfish, right?
Anyway, it’s all for the best because we still have a phenomenal cast and can’t wait to get back on stage and do what we do best.
Which at the moment, is making each other laugh more than anything, much to the chagrin of our director.
Almost the entire cast – that is a whole 12 of us – have known each other for years.
We’ve done multiple shows together and have pretty much seen each other naked. That is, backstage of course.
So we probably spend a third of rehearsals catching up and cracking jokes. Because, come on, it’s been like forever since we’ve all seen each other.
However, masks have made things slightly more challenging in rehearsals. Especially singing.
Have you ever tried to sing with a mask on? I wouldn’t recommend it.
It’s hard enough trying to sound like Lady Gaga without having a piece of fabric masking your mouth.
Warm-ups are especially fun when you’re almost lifting off the ground due to the air pressure.
Anyhoo, we do what we have to do to ensure the show goes on.
And I’m really hoping it will because I will be playing a very different role this year. A man.
Well, two men actually.
That’s right. I am not only starring as high-profile TV executive Bernstein, but a sleazy salesman called Snip.
Now, I was originally going to play Bernstein as a woman. You know, with the whole 80s power suit and big hair. But when I got the part of Snip last week, things changed.
Snip really needs to be a man and basically appears five minutes after Bernstein. Which means a super-fast costume change.
Now we all know I’m a pro at quick changes (remember my one-minute wing changes in Anything Goes and Spamalot). Now there may have been a slight wardrobe malfunction thanks to some panic dressing and a delicate strap, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle.
However, we figure this time it may be a lot easier on me and my wardrobe women if I’m at least the same sex.
Which means I’m going to get my ‘man’ on.
I did suggest taking testosterone supplements, but apparently that's too extreme so I need to come up with something different to become more manly.
Maybe it's time to study the male species a little more closely?
Purely for research purposes of course.
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MORE MAMA MAYHEM
Back to school, back to bedlam
I thought age was just a number?
An Australia Day for everyone
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