February 2009

My Life as a High-Class Whore

(I've had requests to write about what life is like at the theatre so here you go.)

One of my long-time dreams has been to be in a theatre production with sets and costumes. When I read they were holding auditions for "Death of a Salesman" at the Pentacle Theatre, I decided this was a dream I wanted to pursue, one I was willing to sacrifice other things to do. After reading at the auditions one Saturday morning in early November, I was cast as Miss Forsythe, the high-class whore in the restaurant scene which was exactly the part I wanted. Though I didn't know it at the time, this show would be the saving grace that would keep my life together later on when so many other things fell apart. It has taught me so much and changed me in ways I could only guess at before. It has also shown me that dreams really can be attained, that change can come if you are brave enough to try for it. This show has also given me a whole new circle of acquaintances and friends, most of which love theatre and Broadway like I do and can talk about them at length. Getting to know the Pentacle Theatre circle and becoming intimate with the show has been a beloved experience and one of God's great gifts to me, an answer before I had even asked the question.

We are now in full swing of performing the show nearly every night. We opened on January 23rd and close on February 14th. There is a regular rhythm that takes place every day with variation of course, but the basics are always there. It's a joy to go through and as a cast, it's been a great time.

The night usually begins with me walking along the deck of the Pentacle Theatre, the dark settling in the trees and the lights turning on along the path in readiness for the evening's show. Taking the side staircase leading down to the dressing room, most of the actors have already arrived and have started on their chores of cleaning the theatre and facilities, others have already taken their places along the makeup table putting on cover-up and rouge, and in the middle of it all, our director talking to us all, as people run up to place costumes for quick changes back stage. At 6:30 pm, our Stage Manager, also one of the actors, announces, "One hour, you're all secluded." We chorus back, "Thank you one hour!" This exchange will be repeated throughout the night for all the calls out of how much time we have left. The one hour between seclusion and places is my favorite time of day. This is the time we are all together, 13 of us including our director, in our dressing room shooting the breeze and joking around. Several of the actors can do Disney voices including Micky Mouse and Donald Duck. We also tease each other, Bernard often being the brunt of our jokes, and we talk about theatre and the 2010 season. These conversations have been highly enlightening and an education in theatre in itself. Lines from our show are often intermingled in conversation and people are often heard to belt out in song.

At 7:15, Jeff, our director, gathers us together for his pep talk. He usually talks to us about volume, or tells us what kind of house it will be for the night, he always tells us we have a great show and to do show we do. "Break Legs" is called out from actor to actor. At 7:28 pm, the "Loman Family" is called to the stage and places for Act 1 to begin. Those of us left keep talking until we see the theatre go dark on the tv relay. At that point, we quiet down and turn our attention to Jeff's "Director Speech" that he gives every night. Once the play starts, we return to our chosen activities we brought with us. This may be playing cards, talking, watching the play, or eating dinner. We often talk about how the evening is going and what kind of audience we have that night, some audiences laugh more, others are more serious and attentive.

At intermission, if not before, I've changed out of my street clothes into my costume, a brown satin dress, fur stole, and pearls. Then I sit at my place between the actors playing Linda and Bernard putting my 1940's makeup on and lastly, my wig and hat. This takes about a half-hour every night and I have come to really enjoy the process. While not on stage, I trade my high heels for red slippers and the fur for a wool sweater. It's actually pretty cold in the dressing room so hot coffee and a blanket are also often around me. Often I stop what I'm doing to watch a favorite part of the play or to talk with my fellow cast. During intermission before we take our places again, Jeff gives us his "intermission talk" when he proclaims how we gave them hope in Act 1, now lets tear it apart from underneath them and make them cry in Act 2. In this, we are always highly successful.

By the time the scene with Charlie in Act 2 begins, I've warmed up in my high heels, reviewed my lines, removed my glasses, and have taken my fur and handbag and quietly walked upstairs. Silent as the grave is the appropriate phrase for opening the door in the back and I sit and wait, exchanging quiet words and looks with others in the back. We often play around until it's time to take places at the entrances to the stage. My role, though a small one is a lot of fun. You can play my role two ways, the director and I have decided to play her a high-class whore who is "working the restaurant" for her client of the night. To perform it, I have spent a lot of time learning to walk in high heels with a book on my head and figuring out the small movements with the lines, learning how to be sensual and comfortable with that in front of nearly two hundred people every night. On top of being sexy and flirting outrageously, my goal for the scene is to have the whole glass of "Champaign" drunk by the time I exit. Another goal is to keep a straight face when I give "Stanley" a very dirty look so he'll leave. This gets more and more difficult the more the audience laughs and they laugh every night. It's my favorite moment in the scene.

After I do my "little wave" and exit, I sit on one of the back stage staircases in blue light playing with my purse and compact until I hear my cue to go back below the "window" and wait. "Letta" walks in with me this time and Happy and I check each other out until Happy persuades us to leave with him. However, I am picking him up as much as the other way around. The next time I come on stage is not until curtain call until which, I am usually back downstairs. I call the show, a drama upstairs, but a comedy downstairs. Hanging out is a delight. After curtain call, the entire cast plays a game called "change as fast as you can so you can talk to whoever came to see you and go home or out for a drink".

The last few years, I have loved performing before audiences in dance. It is there I fell in love with the stage and it has been with this show, I have had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in that desire. At a time when I could have become depressed and discouraged, this show has been a living joy, something good and true to focus on and have fun with. Sometime in the next year or two, I would like to act in another show. In the meantime, I am now taking photographs for the theatre and will see all the other shows come together. That will be a treat in itself.

If want to come see the show, tickets can be obtained at: www.pentacletheatre.org.

Last Updated: 12/30/2011