The Imagination Blog

As you may have noticed I haven’t put a post onto this blog for quite a while. Not for lack of interest, but more due to a lack of time. But I’ll try to make up for it now. Andy Ladd, the character I played in “Love Letters” talks at one point about all of the letters he’s required to write to family and friends while away at school. He explains how he once skipped a weekly letter to his parents, and was then forced “to write my parents three pages to make up for the week I missed.” Though I’m not required to “make up for the week I missed”, I’d like to do it anyway.

THE SHOW

The show was great. I mean, I’ve very proud of the production we staged. I hope people liked it because we sure did. It was a fun show to be in. It didn’t hurt that my wife is great, and funny, and beautiful. We laughed a lot back stage. And found the humor in each others gaffs. I, for example, did the entire first act one night with my fly open. (Normally I’d charge extra for that, but I decided to let it go just this once!) Terry, for reasons we are still unsure of, decided to skip half a page of the show one night. As you know, we held our scripts, so as soon as the words she was speaking became different from those I was following on the page, I began to panic. I started to sweat because I had no idea where we were in the show. Then out of my peripheral vision my eye caught a word she was saying on the next page, and I was able to “catch up” before it was my turn to speak. They really need to make an “actor grade” anti-perspirant!

THANK YOU’S

I can’t thank everyone enough for the way they welcomed Terry and I to the Playhouse family. Paul Thompson, the Chairman of the Playhouse, and Tony Pingitore, the Vice-Chairman, literally met us at the door when we arrived for our first rehearsal. That was really cool of them. We really appreciated it. I should add that it was our pleasure to meet them that night, and to get to know them throughout the production.

Stuart Landon, our Director, is simply wise beyond his years. For the past two decades “Love Letters” has been staged like a portrait. Two actors sitting side-by-side. Static. Stuart, for the first time ever, looked at “Love Letters” and instead of seeing a portrait he saw a dance. He managed to create a flowing, moving production, that seemed to connect with people in a way they hadn’t imagined. Many people came up to me after the show and told me that they simply loved the direction of the show. Many had seen it before, and were sort of embarrassed to suggest that they had previously thought “Love Letters” was “boring”. This time around, they said it “had life” and it really spoke to them. That’s all Stuart’s doing.

Also, like bosses or coaches, directors have different techniques for bringing the most out of their employees, athletes, or actors. Stuart’s technique is kindness and respect. He said he enjoyed collaborating. In my past experience that usually meant, yes, tell me what you think, I’ll listen, smile, and then disregard what you said. In every instance that we brought an idea to Stuart, I felt he was really listening. Some of our suggestions were better than others, but still, regardless of the quality of our suggestions, he still listened. And often, to my surprise, he took an idea and incorporated it. This spirit of collaboration made the entire process enjoyable. To come to the theater and feel like I didn’t have to leave my creativity at the door was a great pleasure.

If you are an actor and have the chance to work with Stuart I strongly suggest you jump at the chance.Thank you Stuart.

Derek Dunham is technically the “Marketing Director” of the theater. He is definitely that. But I can’t think of an title that truly captures the amount of work that he put into this production. He gave more of his time than I thought possible. For example, one afternoon Terry and I were invited to be on the WITF radio to talk about the show. We weren’t going to be able to do it because we could get a sitter. But Derek said he’d handle it. He took time off of work and met us at the station. He sat with our son for an hour while we were on air. This he did because he’s a great guy and good friend. But also because he knew it was important for the Playhouse to get the exposure it would garner from being on the radio that day. This from a volunteer.

I told Derek that this level of attention is what Terry and I used to pay a manager 15% of our income for. I also told him that it would only be fair to pay him the 15% that would normally go to a manager. So Derek will be getting a check for 15% of our salary from “Love Letters”. (That check and 5 cents will get you a nickel!)

Thank you Derek.

There were two of us in the cast, but we couldn’t possibly do the show without the people who VOLUNTEERED to be on the crew. They were there every night. Their commitment to the show was unmatched, and we can’t thank them enough. But I’ll try.

Thank you to Mark Cuddy (Producer), Susie Gruber (Set Designer/Costumer), Amy Schedler (Asst. Set Designer), Linda Knapp (Props), Aileen Hower (Makeup/Hair), Jayme Paluskievicz(Stage Manager), Tim Banis (Sound Designer), Dillon Lewis (Lighting), Theresa and Pete Ridge (Lighting Design), Samantha Bates (Asst. Stage Manager), Marley Amstutz (House Manager), Karen Dundore-Gulotta (Wardrobe), Michael Feldser (Photographer), our Ushers, Box Office Staff, and Concession Stand volunteers, and everyone on the Board of the Hershey Area Playhouse.

It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (And when you think about it, is there really any place you’d rather be than trapped in a wooden drum with a bunch of rabid simians?)

THE AUDIENCES

Terry and I were having fun rehearsing the show. We really enjoyed to coming to the theater and working. But when we took to the stage the first night, and heard the laughter from the audience, we felt like we were in a different world. It was magical. There is nothing like live theater. Actually, if I’m completely fair, live theater can be as painful as gum surgery. I’ve performed in plays that had more people on the stage than in the audience. That hurts. But every night we performed at the Playhouse we had an audience that was right there with us - sharing in the experience of the moment.

For everyone who came to the show, for those who wrote about it in the press, for those who brought a friend along or encouraged a co-worker to come and see the show, we thank you. Personally, for giving us your support. But also for supporting the arts in our community.

I truly think the Playhouse has only just begun. Mark my words, with your support, the Hershey Area Playhouse will soon be the cultural center of our community.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!

Brian Baker & Terry Farrell

A while back while my wife was cleaning out some closet she found a box of letters I sent her while I was on a Navy cruise in the Mediterranean. It was pre-internet; telephone communication was by trans-Atlantic cable and expensive, so letters and the more modern technology, cassette tape recording, were the only way to keep in touch. My writing was not very profound, but it awakened the feelings of separation I had and the longing to know how life fared for my bride across the ocean. Our separation was only a few months, but I wonder what I might have said in letters over a longer time span.

Tonight, Barbara and I saw Brian Baker and Terry Farrell in Love Letters as they portrayed Andrew and Melissa over 50 years of their lives as told through a series of letters to each other. It occurred to me that, like Andrew, I have always expressed my feelings better in writing than in person. I suppose the modern emoticon is technology’s answer to those who don’t have time to find the right words in the urgent immediacy of emails and text messages

But Love Letters is more than the longitudinal correspondence of childhood friends. Andrew and Melissa complement each other by their differences. She is the emotional fire he can not get elsewhere in his otherwise highly successful life; he is the grounding she has never had to keep her flame contained where it can produce light and warmth instead of destruction. One could read the script and get the idea, but Terry and Brian put flesh on the characters’ bones.

How many of us have wished for the opportunity to “do over” some time of our lives? Several times in the show, I saw that look on the characters’ faces – “if I had only…” That’s the beauty of theater – the intimate emotional sharing between the actors and the audience. And at Hershey Area Playhouse, the intimacy is almost palpable.

Don’t miss this production. And when you get home afterwards, take out that old Parker and write to someone – in a letter.

All the best,

John Messmer

Being involved in community theatre for a little over three years, I am continually amazed at lessons learned by bringing a group of “strangers” together 4-6 weeks prior to am production and observing the process of multiple personalities and people becoming one team as the week of production approaches.

I have read the posts by Brian and Stuart and I am personally touched by the imagination, creativity of both but, more importantly, the passion of the focus of all the players and support staff in producing a great performance.

As a former senior corporate executive, there is so much to be learned by this process. I only wish that the business world which always talks about teamwork would send representatives to view this process. There are no guidebooks, policies, chains of command … there is simply a total commitment from all participants produce an excellent product! Excellence happens because of passion and commitment of all the players on the team on stage or backstage.

In advance, after watching a rehearsal last week, I’d like to congratulate the entire “Love Letters” team for what I’m sure will be a fabulous performance.

BREAK A LEG!

Putting on a play is a lot like building a house. The script is the blueprint, the author is the architect, and the director is the homeowner - the chief decision maker. The actors, I think, are the interior designers - trying to add some color to the place.

So if doing a play is like building a house, then “Tech Week” is the moment when the electricians, the plumbers, the carpenters, and the roofers all show up at the same time. That is what we are facing over the next few days.

Tech Week usually takes place the week prior to a show’s opening night. It’s the time when all the technical elements of a show are brought to life. The lighting designer hangs and sets the lights. All of the props are incorporated into the production. Costume designs are finalized, and all sound effects and cues are set. For the actors Tech Week is all about starting and stopping - moving from one cue to the next and back again.

Some actors dread Tech Week. I happen to love it. It’s exciting. It’s the moment when all  of the creative forces are teeming, and, well, “team-ing”. I love seeing people working together. It’s inspiring. And it’s really nice to feel the sense of community that comes at this time in the process.

Often, decisions regarding the technical aspects of the show are made by the director and/or producer in conjunction with the designer. The actors are usually out of the loop. So frequently during Tech Week we, the actors, are seeing things for the first time.

Music, for example, is one of the elements that is incorporated during Tech Week. Music is an element that we often take for granted. We really shouldn’t. Music has the power to set the mood for the whole show. And often that mood is set before the actors reach the stage. So if the wrong mood is set, the actors can wind up swimming up stream in an effort to undo the mood that has already been set. Think of the music from, say, “The Three Stooges” shorts (“Three Blind Mice”, remember?). Well that sets the tone. It’s says “Get ready to laugh!” A funeral march would, of course, say something different.

ADDENDUM : I didn’t have time to finish this post before I had to leave for rehearsal. So the rest of this post comes after Day 1 of Tech Week.

Wow! The lights are up and set, and the show is really coming together. We were able to run all of the light cues for the whole show in the first day. We’ll spend the rest of the weekend working out any kinks, and getting everyone comfortable with their respective assignments. Costumes have been discussed, and will be finalized today. We’ll be attempting to run the entire show IN COSTUME today.

Costuming is an element that really effects how the actors feel about their character. Something as simple as the shoes you wear on stage can change a performance. Think about it this way. What would change if you had to leave the house for work tomorrow wearing cowboy boots? (Assuming, of course, you don’t already.) You’d probably walk differently. You’d be taller. People would see you differently. All these things effect an actors performance.

Working with costumes for the first time also effects a performance in more practical ways. I did a show once where I was wearing wool knicker and a wool vest, over a heavy cotton shirt. We’d rehearsed for month without costumes, but as soon as we ran the show, under hot lights, wearing clothes as breathable as a dry cleaning bag, I found myself nearly fainting by the end of the first Act.

I’m looking forward to the rest of this important week. Everyone is bringing their A Game. Each and every person working on this show has shown a level of commitment and professionalism that is unmatched. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of this. It’s been a ton of fun, and I think everyone is anxious for Opening Night. I can already tell that the show we will be presenting will be something special.