I’ve just finished appearing in a production of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as Lady Egeus, Hermia’s mother. (Yes, yes, it’s supposed to be Lord Egeus, Hermia’s father but men are scarce in amateur community theatre.)
I’m part of a small theatre company called Theatre of the Winged Unicorn. It’s unique. And I’m not just talking about the name. It’s unique because it’s not just about the acting. It’s unique because it’s not about the stars of the show or the glitz and the glamour. It’s unique because it’s about community. And it’s about family.
It says something when you’ll happily accept a part that has only thirty lines and appears for a mere half an hour of total stage time just so you can be involved.
The “Crap-All Lines Club”. We spent a lot of time laughing and eating snacks.
It says something when you’ll happily accept extra roles behind the scenes like “Box Office” or “Fairy Wrangler” because being part of a family is about supporting one another.
The “Box Office”
It says something when you’re sad that the show is over not because your stage role has come to an end but because your time hanging out with a great bunch of people has come to an end.
Photo courtesy of S. Thorne
It says something when more often than not, the people you meet for the first time in a play become your friends for life.
Two of my besties
I’m no great acting talent and I have no ambitions of fame and fortune. What I do dream of doing is joining with others I like and respect to create something beautiful, funny, tragic, mysterious or magical.
It’s more than just one midsummer night’s dream.
It’s a lifetime of living the dream.
A Midsummer Family
A post in reverse response to the Daily Post’s prompt “Dream”. Reverse because I actually thought of this post (title included) hours before the Daily Post posted its prompt. Figured I’d better write it then.
Master of Something I'm Yet To Discover 
so heart warming to read this Heather. Your passion and and love for the experience but more so for the ‘family’ jump from the screen as I read. What wonderful costumes but the wide smiles steal the show. Congrats on a job well done. What’s next?
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I have fun with the on-stage stuff but it’s the backstage shenanigans with people I love that keeps me coming back really. 😉 Not sure what’s next yet. We’re still in the planning stages for October.
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It sounds like you had a great time. I think a lot of community theater puts the emphasis on “community”. Nice pictures of the cast (and box office) and fun little drawing.
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I think you almost need to delineate between true “community theatre” and just “amateur theatre” because I’ve known plenty of amateur (or what we prefer to call ‘non-professional’) theatre companies where egos and off stage dramatics are the norm. That kind of behaviour is not tolerated in true community theatre. We always say that the person selling the programs at the door is just as important as the person with the biggest part in the play. More important really because they do their job without the glory and attention from an audience.
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Love the drawing – now that made me smile – and it sounds as though you had a great time with many more to follow. I take it that you are fully recovered now from your horrible accident?
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Thanks, Jude. 🙂 I drew that for a card for three special friends in the play and for the director, also a dear friend. And the little fairy is my friend’s daughter who was one of the fairy dancers.
Yes, all mended. And now the play is over I have no more excuses for not going back to running. Urgh.
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Actually, I think you’ve taken on yet another role with this post….it would be the perfect thing to recruit new talent to the group! Looks like such fun!
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Yes, I suppose we could use it as a test. What is most important to you if you were to become a part of this company? 😉 😀
It’s great fun, especially the fun we have backstage! Thanks, Torrie. Always good to hear from you. 🙂
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Brings back good memories of my days in community theatre….exactly as you describe it here, only far, far, away in the Northern Hemisphere…must be something universal about it!
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That’s wonderful, Cynthia! Yes, I knew I was being cheeky to describe our company as “unique” as I am sure there are other companies around the world that operate the same way. But I know there are also companies where this isn’t the case and egos, politics and hierarchies are the norm. So pleased you also experienced the joy of true community theatre. 🙂
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Sounds like a wonderful group to be a part of. I have a friend who belongs to a similar kind of theatre group & she has expressed how sad she is when a production is finished for exactly the reasons you state. You look wonderful in your costumes btw😉
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Oh, those post-production blues can be bad. You just have to hold out for the next one. 🙂
I loved that cloak. My first entrance was to march regally down the length of the hall and the cloak flowing out behind me sure helped. 🙂
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It’s also about doing what you love and following your passion, with kindred spirits. It looks like you had so much fun together. Congratulations to you all.
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Yes, you are right. And the kindred spirits make all the difference. Sometimes we had a bit too much fun. 😀
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There can never be too much fun, Mosy!
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Another wondrous time, then, H, to add to the roll. What will you do next ? – I can’t believe there hasn’t already been discussion about it.
Another example of the kind of thing the big G does so well, eh ?; for I’m told there are many theatrical groups hereabouts.
I can only add that (1) you would grace any group, and (2) no wonder I fell in love with this town instantly.
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It’s a magical part of living here, certainly. 🙂 Discussions are still underway for the October production. We have a small winter offering to organise first.
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Doing things together always beat doing things on your own, which can be somewhat lonely. It sounds you had/ are having a great time. Doing thing together isn’t always so easy to achieve. Egos can muck it all up very easily. However, if team-spirit dominates, it can be a great experience. Social inclusion, they call that.
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I agree about the egos. We are very protective of our family feel and anyone who comes in and goes against that with a big ego or melodramatics or who just doesn’t get along well with others is usually not asked back.
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Dsar Theatre of the Winged Unicorn:- Your production was a small miracle. The set design, the costumes, the lighting for Oberon’s entrance! Joni and Ellie singing; Ellie and Ben singing. Ben in every aspect. Punching way above your weight.
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On behalf of us all, thank you! 🙂
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So…you can have fun on stage without a knitted beard, huh? It’s wonderful that you get so much enjoyment from your community theater, from sharing life with other people. I bet you’re ready to go again. 🙂
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You can have fun without a knitted beard. Just not as much fun. 😉 😀
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Brilliant! Sounds like you had great fun 🙂
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We had so much fun. Lots of laughs. 😀
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This is such a heartwarming post to read. It’s never about the bright lights and fame, but it is community, family and love that will make our hearts warm at the end of the day. Love the photos of you and the rest of the crew and team. Every part matters, everyone has a part to play no matter how “small” that part is because that small part is important too.
“It’s a lifetime of living the dream.” Love it. I also love the costumes there. So well put together and they look very warm and snug.
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Thanks for such a lovely comment, Mabel. You understand it well. We do our productions in May and October in an unheated 1860s Temperance Hall. It can get a tad chilly. A warm costume is always welcome. 🙂 (Although, with this weird weather we’ve been having, I did melt on a couple of occasions this time.)
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Is there anything better than participating in something you really love doing with people you really like? 🙂
I loved the drawing at the end and smiled because you drew yourself a head taller than everyone else 😉
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No, I don’t think there is. 🙂
Haha. Because you know I freakishly appeared to be a head taller than everybody else in the photos. Actually, I felt I had to apologise to my friend in the purple because I didn’t mean to make her so short but she was just flattered that I’d made her look about 21. 😀
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Your comment made me laugh out loud!
I wish I had a friend who could make me look 21 too, but that miracle isn’t about to happen 😉
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Appearing in the play sounds like a lot of fun! It’s nice that in the photographs, everyone has such broad smiles. I hope you remembered your lines and didn’t have to have them written on the props Marlon Brando style.
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On opening night I remembered my lines but forgot my prop.
The poor mechanicals didn’t get paid.
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It’s so good when the post coincides with the prompt! Excellent to hear about such heart warming activities and seeing you beaming with pleasure, Heather!
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It made me laugh really. And it gave me a needed push to write the post. 😉 Couldn’t help but smile in those photos, Barbara, it was a lot of fun with some great people. 🙂
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I may not come here often but I always leave with a smile, Heather. 🙂 You do brush up well! I can feel the warmth and humour spilling out of those sunny faces. Take care, sweetheart!
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I don’t come here often myself! Thanks, Jo. 🙂
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