Well now time has been flying by at a rate of knots and low and behold the vortex 'Theatre' has sucked me up again and there have been some insane hours being spent painting sets and various other odd jobs for Workshop Theatre's last production of the year. It has been difficult to find the energy for the necessities of this week as I'm still recovering from the sleepless nights and long days of Midsummers.
In the last fortnight I have been getting the most amazing feedback from people who saw the show and my favourite of these, the ones that have made my soul sing, are the compliments on the integration of the actors in the show. Some people have said that the issue of disability wasn't even a consideration to the enjoyment and connection with the show! It is difficult to adequately describe the joy that inspires in me but wow ... just wow!
I also forgot to mention in the last written post how big an effort some people had to put in considering the germs, bacteria and viruses flying around the cast! We survived a heavy conjunctivitis outbreak, laryngitis, various viruses, colds, sniffles, premonitions of doom & insomnia and we still got the show under the lights ... we are the team of steel or as we were forlornly titled after the show had finished we were the Dream Team! Which isn't too bad ... I guess it's better than the Fairy Crew ;-)
But now, as my thoughts move into the future (and possible planning for another Altogether/Workshop project) I want to thank the people intimate to the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Firstly, I want to thank Michael, Ryan and Skye from Recreation Illawarra (part of The Disability Trust). I don't have photos of them downloaded but they're all as cute as a bug's ear. Even given the teething problems early on in the piece, it didn't stop these guys giving over and above to the project and providing the strongest of foundations to me as director to help realise the project. Michael is a funny guy and not a bad party dude and as soon as he builds up some credit points with the missus it would be great to have another beer. Ryan likes AFL so that's immediately a big plus and he also enjoys a good party! Skye also lent her choreography skills to the production and was a pretty good partier too ... These guys seem to really enjoy partying - It's a good thing I don't mind a good party from time to time either ;-)
Juliet (Egea and the Fairy Wattle) and Ian (Starveling aka 'What's his name') who were in the cast are long time theatre compadres and friends but they are also the Altogether Drama drama teachers and started the rehearsal process way back in March 2008. I trust them and their help was invaluable. They gave great advice to the guys early on and 'had my back' in rehearsals, they quelled riots, administered first aid to divas and gave sage advice at every step of the way and also gave wonderful performances ... Thank you!
Gemma (Flute), as well as being fantastic in the play, helped design costumes with her Mum Tessa (who has a thank you below) and I now get the privilege to be working with 'G' on another project my thanks and respect is as big as da cosmos.
Houston Dunleavy graciously composed the music for the Fairy's Song, gratis. Nathan Green provided Didgeridoo sounds and my long time music collaborator and friend Bertie McMahon composed the Rude Mechanicals theme music ... I cheer for them for they are jolly good fellows!
This is Emma. She took photos, prompted at rehearsals and also created the fantastic artwork that was my director's gift. She is a talented lady and a wonderful friend. I regard Emma as a 'Sister from another mother' and look forward to working more with her and hanging out with her to watch Twin Peaks now that we are getting some free time up our sleeves. I give her a standing ovation.
There should be a photo here of Julie ... but she hates having photos of herself taken and that probably explains her amazing skill and willingness to be behind the lens. Jules took our profile shots and some rehearsal pics but also was assistant stage manager ... she is a generous friend and I'm glad she counts me as part of her posse. She too is also as cute as a bug's ear and takes a good photo! There I said it ... now I wait ;-)
This is Tessa. Tessa helped design the costumes. Tessa made the costumes. Tessa gathered props, made donkey ears to the director's specs, was a firm defender of the director and also stage managed our amazing show. If she were the president and I was a security guy I would take a bullet for her. Seeing as though that's unlikely to happen to us I'll tilt my glass in her direction, cheer for the Wallabies and the Waratahs and hope to the big Iguana that she will work with me again ... Thanks Tessa, always and everywhere.
This is Susie. Susie is my Wifey. Susie played Titania and is a staunch member and number one card holder of the Lajos fan club. I keep telling her there must be better things to do with her time but - Ouch! She just threw something at me! Oh, right ... Seriously though, she is my rock and my sanctuary. She is a willing and wonderful Sancho Panza to my Don Quixote. She rubs my 'Bottom' ears (not my bum hairs!) when I am stressed and I make her Lemon tea to soothe her throat. Her background support through this whole journey makes me feel about as special as a guy can feel ... Thanks, Darl.
And so I think we're just about done. If I have inadvertently forgotten anyone - look again in a couple of days, Susie's got my back here and I'll make good. We're still waiting for the books to be finalised but we're all pretty sure that the production hasn't lost any money. The more important stuff has been paid in carriage loads and that's the most important part for me.
Having gotten the blogging bug I have started another blog about the musical/theatrical/artistic influences on my life called the Art/Life Matrix ... If you want to read on please join me in the new blog, if not thanks for joining me on this journey and I'll sign off with the Irish cheer: "May the roof above you never cave in and may the friends below it never fall out!"
Cheers and lots of love,
Lajos.
