BLOGS

When the curtain falls on the final performance for a show, usually the next day is what's known as "tear down." Everyone who is involved in the show, in any capacity, comes to the theatre to roll up their sleeves and help return the theatre to its working state. A blank slate.

Tear down can be a huge job for a few, but we were blessed that many of us showed up. Folks jumped to it, grabbing screw guns to help take down the set pieces, gathering back stage to organize the costumes and bring out all the props onto the stage for sorting.

As the set for the gas chamber came down, Jacob Scott (who played Sid Prince--the villain who was master of the gas chamber) helped remove the flywheel that was the release valve for the deadly gas. As it came off the wall, he said, "a part of me just died inside." Then he grinned and continued with the work of dismantling our make-believe world of 1890s London.

I felt the same as I went through the props that had taken so much time to gather...Holmes and Moriarty's walking sticks, Sid's gas chamber lantern, Irene Adler's wedding bouquet, Watson's pocketwatch, the card file from Holmes's desk at 221B Baker Street. Such wonderful memories, soon to be consigned to the prop shelves (or, the ones I chose to not be reimbursed for...to become part of my household).

With all these willing helpers, we completed tear down in two hours...amazing! The theatre is now ready for an upcoming CD release party and the Friday Funnies. The nice bit is that we've left up a bit of the Holmes set to provide a backdrop for these events and to block the backstage from view. So a part of the set will live on for the summer and that's kind of cool.

There's still a few more tasks. Certain costumes are at the dry cleaners and once they're done, I'll coordinate the return of some costumes, props and furniture to Music Theatre of Wenatchee and Wenatchee High School--both who generously loaned to us.

The director's work continues!

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