One Last Glib for the Road

In preparation for the final weekend of our play’s run, we all meet for our weekly glib to refresh ourselves of our lines after four days of down time, and as you may of guessed, I have way too many. I’m not all tegether certain, but I suspect the amount of dialogue for Cyrano, is perhaps more than all the other characters of the play combined. So many a late night was spent talking to myself, in an effort to commit all of them to memory and thankfully, I managed to pull it off. Of course, now for all of us, it’s all a matter of maintenance, to keep the many lines and monologues of all the various characters, in the places where they’re supposed to be. (For some odd reason, they have a tendency to migrate around the scene, from time to time.)

And this brings us to the art of glibbing, where entire cast sits around in a shape that remotely resembles a circle, to get through the entire play as fast as possible, so everyone can get home in time to watch Ugly Betty. However, we may have been slightly distracted from this supreme goal, by the charms of chocolate, when our leading lady Pascha Boyd, showed up with candy bars for the entire cast.

For the sweet occasion, I broke out the camera to grab some shots of my fellow thespians before our final hurrah. But I still didn’t have a proper handle, on the fine-points of the digital flash, so the photos aren’t as good as I’d like them to be.

Cyrano Director, Aaron Hunsley

Pictured first, our director Aaron Hunsley oversaw the glib, standing in for anyone that was unable to attend the rehearsal. After Cyrano, he’ll be taking on the colorful part of Bottom, in Maplewood’s upcoming production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. Aaron enjoys directing, but he really hits his stride as an actor, and is perhaps the best thespian that can be found in our small hamlet. Anointed with an excellent and distinctive stage-voice, his characters just pop off the stage.

Pascha Boyd as Roxane

Next our lovely leading lady Pascha, is glibbing away as Roxane. She was wonderful for the part, though rather tall, an additional quandary for our love-lorn hero Cyrano. Not only did the poor guy have an weighty profile but thanks to me, he turned out really, really short. It’s a small wonder, he didn’t tip over during the fight scenes. In an effort to balance things out, Pascha wore flats and a charming smile that continues to beguile our audience.

Chris Bowling as De Guiche

The enthusiastic blur, is Chris Bowling, who’s playing the ever plotting De Guiche. I’ve worked under his direction a couple of years back, in our own production of Midsummers for the Shakes and Grapes Company. Playing his dream part as the inept thespian Bottom, to my love struck Titannia, we had a blast bouncing around the stage in donkey ears and fairy wings. Of course, if there’s a play you simply have to get on the boards with the minimum of trauma, Chris is the director you want for the job. Especially with smaller productions running on a wing and a prayer, having him manage things, always makes an actor feel that much more assured, because he always knows what needs to be done and how to do it. And as an actor he’s always the guy that knows his lines and yours. Of course, I think he’s having a little too much fun as De Guiche and oozes with delight as he utters, what I suspect is his favorite line in the play, "you will be so kind to fight, until the last one of you is killed." Of course, this is exactly what he expects of his actors, as a director. He is currently co-writing a secret musical dynamo, with lots of tapping and aliens from outer space. (Don’t ask.) I also have production plans with Chris and his totally fab wife Val, for brunch on their fabulous deck, overlooking their fabulous yard. I’m going to make quiche. Funny how that rhymes with De Guiche.

Of the principles not pictured, is Mike Tuley as Cyrano’s best buddy Le Bret and Yule Owen as our Christian. Like the character he plays, Mike is a handy guy to have around. He also has an impressive collection of period swords, guns and the like, that turned out to be real handy for the play. And Yule, is just so totally Yule. And if you have that, what else do you need?

Pamela Forbes as Duenna

Last but not least, is one of my favorite fuzzy people Pamela Forbes. The first time we worked together was on a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, where she had to play the guy. (I guess turnabout is fair play.) This time she’s taken on the role of our Duenna and we have a cute little bit involving poetry and cream puffs. But as a seamstress, cook and an accomplished engineer, she’s proven to be just as valuable behind the scenes, when it comes to dealing with costumes, set-design and starving actors. Of course, I’ve known her for awhile, so she has a tendency to spoil me with treats and homemade gifts. (I should be receiving my jewel encrusted, hair doodle, any day now.) Later in the season, she’ll be appearing in the Maplewood production of Oklahoma.

As for me, I think I’ll just be going back to my usual night-shift grind, after we’ve made our last curtain call. And of course, the work of the quill awaits.