Amanda Frechette joined New Leaf as an Artistic Associate this year – and she’s also the stage management force that keeps shows (and presets) as complex as The Man Who Was Thursday running smooth as butter.
It’s only a day before we open The Man Who Was Thursday and I am sitting at home fully dressed but wearing slippers, fuzzy robe and winter hat. I have been a victim of the common cold-the one that always strikes in October because it’s still fall, yet the winter weather has already started outside. I was fortunate enough to be able to work at home this week so I may spend all of my available hours dedicated to tech.
I am a little sad that the rehearsal process is over. This may sound strange to some of you, but I like the rehearsal process better than the performance process. Though, granted, it is most satisfying and wonderful to have a beautiful show, drama or comedy, I like watching the rehearsals. Seeing the first read through to the final dress, even the final show (because as we all know, opening does not stop the discovery) is amazing. As a stage manager, I get to see that process. I may be in the heart of the production, but I can take a step back and see what directors and actors cannot sometimes. I can see the discoveries. I watch as one actor makes the discovery on his own or with the skills of the director.
Thursday will be no different. Instead of finding tear-jerking, heart-breaking moments that make life seem so beautiful as I saw in Touch and Six Years, Thursday makes me bust out laughing. Belly laughs, giggles, even cackles of laughter. The work I have seen these gentlemen do under the wise direction of Ms. Hutchinson has been hilarious (yes, sometimes I laughed so hard I cried). Not all of these hilarious moments are due to the fantastic and witty script written by Bilal Dardai, they were spontaneous and meant for rehearsal only situations. But regardless, I was witness to the hilarity, and, therefore, will be laughing when no one else is. New Leaf encourages the actors to get involved, keep discovering and play. These 10 men took the word “play” and ran with it.
So as I sit here with my box of tissues and Purel, drudging along all day in a job that pays the bills, I am itching to get to the theatre. Yes, I have lots of things to do when I get there (including wipe down the light and sound board so the designers don’t get sick) but also because I cannot wait to be in the room again with the possibilities of what they will find today. Today will be the final addition to all things tech and tonight my friends (as is the way with New Leaf) tech is where the best ideas and collaboration happens. For not only do I get to watch the actors now play, I get to watch the designers.
The Man Who Was Thursday opens tomorrow. I shall be the one in corner laughing.
