Heather-Claire Nortey
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

The Community from the Capital

I walked into the new GCTC building on Wellington today (Tuesday, September 11, 2007) at 9:50 AM. I was greeted by the bright colours of the interior and a lovely staircase that led up to the studio where I was going to meet the cast and crew of the show “The Man from the Capital”. Walking into the room, I saw actors being measured for costumes, people looking through scripts, and a beautiful piano. I was not surprised to see the action around me; I was in fact quite thrilled to be there. Six of us were cast as the chorus in this musical last spring and all summer I have been waiting for the moment that the rehearsal process would begin. I reminded myself that this is not just a show, but it is a business and yet a grand opportunity for self-improvement and excitement. I enjoyed the professional atmosphere, the organization of the read-through, and seeing everyone with a thirst to perform all in one room ready to work.

I enjoyed meeting some of the actors and hearing them perform in the first read-through. Their voices were passionate and fervent and the music was quick, light, and humorous. Slowly, I was starting to get a feel for the small town of Salmon Elbow during the Depression. Seeing a maquette / miniature version of the set was very helpful. I now have a visual of what this world will look like in a few weeks, after so many people have contributed and worked hard to bring it to life. The script is witty, amusing, and yet it gives you a chance to think about what life was like at that time in Canadian history. Some of the moments that are written down present great opportunities for the actor and musical performer. Reading the script at home was nothing like the voices and music I heard Tuesday morning. I cannot wait to take part in the action, music, and learn the choreography for this show.

I look forward to rehearsing with this group of talented individuals and working with director Jennifer Brewin. Right away I knew that this process would be unlike any of the other theatre, music, and dance shows that I have performed in. I plan to take advantage of this opportunity and learn what I can, do the best that I can, and contribute to the show however I can. I am not there to just sing, dance, say a few lines and then leave at the end of the day. I am also there to help convey the feel of the world within the play.

Although the theatrical world that we are going to create is in the Depression era, there are so many things in the show that will bring smiles to the faces of children, adults, and students in the audience. Taking one last glance at the people around me before I left the room reminded me of the community of characters in the show. Everyone who is working on the show has a purpose and our team is a little community of local artists from the capital. This is a great opportunity for me as a theatre student and as someone who is passionate about music and choreography mixed to perfection in the theatre. We all have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but it helps to be on a winning team. I look forward to learning what I can from these talented individuals and having a great time in the process.

-Heather-Claire Nortey