My housemate”s son is on the set crew for the musical “Cinderella,” now on stage at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. So in the process of giving him rides to and from rehearsals, my family has been privy to much of the hard work that goes into local performances, as well as ways that a performance evolves and develops.
A group of people in street clothes, blocking out their movements onstage or seated in the audience to go over aspects of the show, gave no hint of the spectacle that is sure to delight local audiences. In its earliest stages, it was actually pretty mundane.
We”d hear fragments of dialogue or a musical number that meant nothing by them selves without the continuity of being part of an overall performance. If anything, we”d hear the same fragments over again, as actors and director worked out how best to deliver their lines and how best to posture themselves while doing it. Hours, days, weeks, it all added up.
Little by little, the empty stage was filled ? first with cardboard stand-ins and then with pieces of the set. Prop were put to use. And as the costumes were completed, the actors began wearing them onstage.
Someone also set up lights and sound and coordinated the printing of programs and tickets. Other people are selling the tickets, either through local businesses or at the Soper-Reese box office. Still others are serving as ushers or manning refreshment tables during performance intermissions. The contributions are numerous!
During the performance, you see the culmination of everybody”s hard work both on stage and behind the scenes. This believable transformation into another world gives no hint of all those hours, days, weeks invested in the performance.
Finally, after the curtains have closed, someone has to close down the Soper-Reese theater for the night ? vacuuming up the popcorn and locking all the doors. In a way, all of our dedicated volunteers are the real stars of the show.
All of this work is decidedly worth this performance of “Cinderella.” It is full of light-hearted energy and excellent comedic performances.
This has been a classroom experience for some members of cast and crew, who are presenting this performance through a joint collaboration between Mendocino College Lake Center and Lake County Theater Company.
Carol Dobusch teaches two theater classes, in acting and production, which meet in the Soper-Reese. Students in each class earn one unit of credit from Mendocino College.
These courses will also be available in Spring 2009. Theater Arts 220: Acting — Performance and Theater Arts 225: Production — Performance, will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday from Jan. 20 through May 21. For additional information, visit the college online at www.mendocino.edu.
“Cinderella” is being presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14; at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main Street in Lakeport.
Children 12 and younger are being admitted Friday at the special price of $5 apiece. Regular prices otherwise apply for Saturday and Sunday performances.
Tickets are $20 reserved seating and $15 general admission. Reserved seating is available through the Soper-Reese box office, which is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays; call 263-0577. Information and seating chart is available at www.soperreesetheatre.com.
General-admission tickets are available at Catfish Books and Main Street Gallery in Lakeport, Wild About Books in Clearlake and Shannon Ridge Tasting Room in Clearlake Oaks.
Cynthia Parkhill is the focus pages editor for the Record-Bee and the editor of the Clearlake Observer American. She can be reached at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com. Opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lake County Record-Bee.
