Backstage In Years Past.

Backstage In Years Past

I remember

so vividly

the intense

heat of

the spotlights

long after the

shows went dark.

The cold sweat drenching

my forehead and my

costumed collars.

It was easy to look

like you were crying

with sweat pouring

into your eyes

But the gratefulness

of many hands all

slapping together

and the entire audience

all rising with

faces aglow

in standing ovations

for outstanding presentations

made the gallons

of sweat worthwhile.

There is no rush

that can compare

to the sharing of stories

retold live and vibrantly

from the pages of a script

freshly memorized,

by hours of listening to

a cassete player

brainwashing your lines

over and over agin

until you could

repeat them

word for word

on cue.

Rehearsals that were

just a prelude

to the opening acts

where all gaffs were

eliminated and missed lines

became exact re-portrayals

of what some fictitious

characters said.

The smells of

greasepaint and makeup

that made each inferior face

an exact exterior

of who you were

chosen to be

in you role.

The exquisitness

of the period costumes

fashioned only for

a run of six weeks

and then relegated

to storage for some

future production

We were issued

all that befit

who we would be

and allowed to don

such amazing fashions

that allowed us

to become our characters.

It was an instant transformation

blended with the

makeup, wigs and

various hats we wore.

Fine wools and

satin and silk.

remnants of another time

worn in many cases

by souls long dead

and yet their choices

of wardrobes lived on

moving and breathing

new life into dormant cloth.

My favorite was a

Picaddilly Square

Tuxedo overcoat

from 1910.

Oh, the stories that

coat could tell

Each costume was

carefully pressed,

starched and

hollowed out

like pumpkin shells

by our dressers,

and then gently pulled over

our shellacked hair

and heavily made

up faces.

Then each fell

in historical folds

all around us and

allowed us to

become someone

else for two hours

in a space and time

from another world,

all presented to

orchestrated tunes.

We sang and danced and

wandered stage right

left and center

enjoying the priveldges

of wowing the crowds.

Sometimes we wept

when our character

suffered some sorrow

Tears actually flowing

from our eyes because

of how deeply

we were into

who we had become.

The odors of the

hairspray, grease paint

and deodorant mingled

with wrigleys and mouthwash

sweat, hot coffees

and a bit fear,

for there was

much to do

and it was all

about something,

Every night

was a challenge

to do that same

perfect production

unflawed again and again

while the unknown

ghosts from other

productions past

always smirked

just outside

the green room doors.

They fed on what

we were doing

as it reminded them

of all those times

back when they

ruled the stage.

Oh, the roses we were

often sent on

opening nights

would have made a fine quilt

of soft red velvet petals

to completly cover all that we

once knew as splendid.

We worked together

as a group for

many long hours

polishing our rough edges

and supporting each other

when cues were missed

and the director

yelled, "Try it again."

Then, when it all

came togther

like a vast puzzle

being solved

we all breathed

sighs of relief

and put away our props

in specific places

for the next show.

I was blessed to be able

to play Fagan in "Oliver."

ruling young hoodlums

and pickpockets

who added to my

box of treasure.

I performed

as Jesus Christ

in various passion plays

and watched members

of the audience

openly weeping

when I was whipped

and crucified.

I would gaze down at them

from my staged crucifixion

with such love in my eyes.

and they felt it and knew

of the significance

of compassionate look.

I played Death in the show

"Death Takes a Holiday."

and when I revealed myself

by stepping under a bank of

black lights and pulling

back my hood, under which

my face and hands were

covered in phosperescent

makeup, the audience

gasped as my skin

instantly turned to bone.

A tremendous special effect!

I had to reveal

my true identity to a

girl who had fallen

in love with me

while I was on vacation

when nothing in the

world was dying.

because I had taken

a leave of absense.

and when she realized

that she would have to die

to be marred to me...???

well you really must

read or see the

finish of that show

to find out what

the ending was.

I played Audrey In

"Little Shop Of Horrors."

Just the voice of the plant

with a bottle of "Jolt"

standing in front of a

full orchestra and

rapping, ranting, bellowing

and belittling all

of the characters

I would soon eat...

"BURRRP!!!'

I played Ebeneezer Scrooge

quite often as

well as the Devil

who got into a fight

with Daniel Webster.

There were too many

shows to detail here

even though I still remember

alomost every

line or song

I uttered or sang.

Now I am

an older actor

I have become much

more In my appearance

like the made up

men I portrayed

without the need

for so much makeup

Playing scenes that are

much more from real life

and seldom

taking bows

as my days

fade into night.

I will play death again

In real life and I will

embrace my final curtain

Leaving al of the other lives

I played behind for

the next young

whippersnapper

to thoroughy enjoy

as much as I did.

"Break a leg, Kiddo."