Melodrama on the mountain

[johnwalser]

A lady in one of our mountain communities up here in the High Sierra decided to do a melodrama at our small amphitheater this summer. #She asked me to do the flyers, the programs and provide the music. #I felt from the beginning this enterprise was doomed to failure simply by the fact that our folks tend to be older and would not be able to remember lines. #I even put up a sign that read “ Remember my lines ....... I can’t even remember where I put my glasses! “

Well, I was wrong. #Last night we played to 131 paying customers ( money going to local charity ) and they laughed, booed and hissed to their heart’s delight. #We were a hit and have four more performances to go.

I am playing my electric mandola with the Benedetto Suspended Jazz Pickup through my Polytone Mega Brute amp. #I play entrance music for the hero, villain and heroine as well as slides and a fast pick for sound effects. #I play a sultry piece that I made up for one part and songs like “ Amazing Grace “, “ Oh, what a beautiful Morning “, “Love Potion Number Nine” and “ The Wedding March “. #Never having done anything like this before, I am amazed at how flexible you must be to play for amateur theater. #Sometimes parts get out of sequence and bits of music need to be played out of order. #I have had to learn to follow along with the story and anticipate when to play the forty or so pieces of music I am doing. #

They are already talking about doing another play next year, but it will be without me.......at least, that’s what I’m saying now.

Today I will be on a float in the Camp Nelson parade picking my mandolin to help promote our production.

John

[allenhopkins]

Playing for stage productions is a "whole 'nother thing," as they say. #Pit orchestra members are incredibly versatile and disciplined. #Being a one-person "orchestra" is very admirable, even in the less formal setting of an amateur melodrama. #Following the action onstage and, as you say, adapting to mistakes and miscues, is great training, I guess, but also mega-stressful.

I did onstage instrumental work for a production of Dark Of the Moon a few years ago, and combining music, acting, and "ambience building" #-- had us playing in the lobby between acts as well -- it was a real education. #Haven't done as much since, though I did provide some music for a set of Stephen Vincent Benet short plays by a local amateur group.

You may find it gets into your blood, and you'll be back next year. #The One-Mandola Pit Orchestra!

[Gutbucket]

That's the coolest gig I've heard on the Cafe. Background music, filler music and sound effects. Homespun should get you to put out a DVD.

[johnwalser]

Homespun just contacted me about doing a DVD! It will be call "How to Make a Fool of Yourself with a Mandolin".

Thought you might like to see some of our "young" cast members. The blonde haired lady is 55 and the rest are between 62 and 69 and a pic of me posing for posters. Today I'm playing guitar and singing gospel songs at 11:00 for chapel and then rushing over to do play at 1:00 p.m. Who said you had more time after you retired?

John

[JEStanek]

Great Stuff and Congratulations, John. There are far worse ways to spend your time.

Jamie

[Gutbucket]

Homespun just contacted me about doing a DVD! #It will be call "How to Make a Fool of Yourself with a Mandolin".

Thought you might like to see some of our "young" cast members. The blonde haired lady is 55 and the rest are between 62 and 69 and a pic of me posing for posters. #Today I'm playing guitar and singing gospel songs at 11:00 for chapel and then rushing over to do play at 1:00 p.m. #Who said you had more time after you retired?

John
I'm already writeing the tab for the book version. Of course it's all wrong. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Bertram Henze]

Who said you had more time after you retired?
Only if you're redundant - which you are not, obviously, and which is as it should be. Cowboys die with their boots on. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Reminds me of my wife's and my first on-stage appearance together in a comedy play, the set being an English hotel dining room, we being the first to enter the stage in each act with our instruments, supposed to be hotel guests who used the empty dining room for "rehearsing"; the good thing about it was that mistakes were not only allowed, they were even expected. But we did one perfect song respectively each time before being complimented out by the "waitress".
The whole theater company are still our most ardent and true fans.

Bertram

[Jason Kessler]

Sounds like a ton of fun.