Classical Music

Behind the scenes on opening night

Canterbury Operatic Society’s production of My Fair Ladyopened last night, to a very appreciative audience.  I thought I would offer my readers a (long!) glimpse behind the scenes - what was the day like for me, playing Freddy Eynsford-Hill?

The day involved: a bit of running around the High Street searching for those last minute items I so desperately needed (facial wipes for the destruction of make-up, micropore for the fixing of microphone wires to the neck, and a wide white ribbon to transform into an unravelled bow tie; making my ‘have a good show’ cards, which used quotes from my character with relevant pictures; phoning home to arrange my parents’ visit at the weekend; and a last flurry of panic before leaving for the theatre.  Have I got the right colour socks on?  Have I put everything I need in my bag?  Is my voice working properly?  Should I eat something?  Can I eat something?  Have I remembered to shave?  Where is my glasses case?  Have I done cards for everyone I wanted to do cards for?  Am I breathing?  And so on.

Finally, it is time to head out to the theatre.  I arrive a little before 6.30pm, and wander the corridors handing out my cards, crossing back and forth with a number of others carrying out the same mission.  The musical director gives out bookmarks to her soloists, the director hand makes cards, one of the maids distributes special boxes of sweets to the different dressing rooms.  Soon, though, the flurry of activity is over, and everyone drifts back to their own dressing rooms, or starts gathering bits and pieces from wardrobe or props.

The first item on my agenda is my hair - Brylcreemed within an inch of its life, at the request of both wardrobe and sound.  Wardrobe like Brylcreem because it stays shiny, and sound like it because it doesn’t become solid and do unpleasant things to the microphones secreted on our heads.  After that, the microphone pouch, which lives on a cord around my waist, goes on.  I try to take things slowly, bearing in mind that we’ve been told we’re needed on stage at 7 o’clock to discuss one of the scenes.  The basics of my opening costume go on - black dress trousers and a white dress shirt.  The mic. pack slides its chilly way down my back and into its little pouch, followed more slowly by what seems like several miles of cable.  At this point I’m glad that my two main costumes involve tailcoats, so even if the cable escapes slightly, it still won’t be seen. 

Read more...