Well I finished reading Jack Hibbert's play "Liquid Amber" last night. I must say I enjoyed it in particular its irreverence and as it says on the back cover its vulgarity. it poked fun at and tore strips off just about everybody and everything. The cast had an age range from 70 to 18 which means if it were done you could have a real cross section of ages I think making for a much richer experience.

I was really pleased last night to see that a Theatre company had put on "Into The Woods" a Stephen Sondheim musical. That musical brings back so many memories for me and as the young lady, who played the Bakers Wife, sang I could not help thinking back to our production of it. I had wanted to Direct it for years and finally in 2010 the opportunity arrived. Last night however the strongest memory was off the privilege I had to collaborate with my friend and fellow Life member David Parsons. Although David was battling health issues he put up his hand to be Musical Director and like he always did he gave it one homered and ten percent. Those who know the show will understand that it's probably over eighty percent music and twenty percent dialogue. David stood night after night in the Orchestra pit conducting. At the end of each performance his arm would be so sore but yet he was back the next night. Into The Woods would be David Last active role in MMuDS and I feel blessed we were able to work together. Last night as The Bakers Wife sang my eyes got a little moist. I'm sure it was just the Hay Fever I have been suffering from. I am also sure David was looking down smiling and thinking "Well it took you long enough to catch up to MMuDS"

Putting your hand up to Direct a play can be the most rewarding nerve racking experience possible even for a person who has appeared on stage in many productions. This is particularly true when you are directing a play for community theatre. Community theatre has unique challenges but equally it can be the most rewarding. In directing you take a collective as well as a personal journey of discovery. You learn a lot about yourself as well as others. You need to build trust in those who you are directing because they are the ones who are on stage sometimes feeling very vulnerable in front of an audience. As I said community theatre throws up challenges not faced in the professional ranks and as director you need to be aware but not alarmed. you also need to be passionate about what you are doing because if you are not then how can you possible expect your cast and crew to be. This post should not be seen as an attempt to write a directing manual because frankly every production is different and requires the director to be nimble but more it is my experience interwoven with some principles that if you are considering directing may assist you in your theatrical and personal journey.

While I like the colour version of this image I really like the Black and White. it gives what is a dramatic exchange even more drama. As beautiful as the colour is sometimes it can overwhelm the image and you can loose some of the drama of what is going on. Anyway that's what I think. What do you think? Pictured below are Sandy Mackinnon and Rick Lindsay