I’ve got some pretty clever friends. One of them, Greg, hopped into the future half a century and captured a recording of a conversation our future selves held. Greg must have been receiving some pretty extensive organ replacement to still be functioning in 2057, but thats modern medicine for you.

Click here to be a fly on a futuristic world and hear me “addressing” Greg.

The She’ll Be Right Band of Billabong Prank. Janne-Maree far left, I’m the dingo far left.

Today marked the end of an era for me and a large group of people who find the time each Saturday afternoon to get together and play make believe.

I’ve been associated with the children’s theatre group since 2000 (or 1999, I’m unsure) after I was invited to audition as a young actor to join the numbers on stage. I was soon involved in two shows a year, and I was given my first ever lead role in just my second year with the group when I was aged 15. During this particular show I filled in for the absent rehearsal pianist and soon after asked the musical director, Janne-Maree, if she needed a rehearsal pianist for the forthcoming production (which was to focus moreso on the younger members of the group, 12 and under). She took me on board for a tiny show called Billabong Prank.

The score was something like thirty pages long (miniscule) and I still couldn’t play it right, but Janne-Maree continued to teach me about piano and accompanying in particular. When I turned 16 I was facing my final year with the group and did one show in the orchestra pit and one on stage. After this I continued on as the rehearsal pianist under Janne-Maree’s musical directorship. Slowly, my piano skills got better and I learnt how to work with people to teach a song. I continued, show after show, spending a whole bunch of Saturday afternoons and a few full weekends at the theatre each year, and we eventually formed a key group of musicians for the band. For a while myself and Adam F. alternated on the piano/keyboard parts, Greg played drums, Michelle and later Brett on Bass and Janne-Maree conducting. The lineup was always different. One show I played percussion (in the middle of my HSC, I believe), one show I did stage crew instead. Several players came but only lasted one show, but it was the band we had this weekend that represented essentials; it was the tightest, friendliest and most fun shape the band has ever taken.

Janne-Maree recently shared the news that she was pregnant for the first time, and I really have never been as happy for anyone at any time as I am for Janne-Maree and her family. However, this meant that Janne-Maree would be giving up her MD position that she has held for nine years. This was the climax of the today, the final performance of the current musical, Smithy. Janne-Maree recieved a standing ovation from the children, their parents and of course the band. The proverbial baton has now been passed to Adam F., who has been the rehearsal pianist for the past year or two as I have been off working on other shows whom I’m positive has benefited from the same mentorship and support that I’ve received over the years.

Whether or not I continue playing in the band for these shows is unsure, but I’ll forever remember the energy and spirit Janne-Maree gave to the children and parents of the group, and the laughs and education I’ve gained working with her. The group will not be the same without her, but the very nature of the group means it is always changing and gives new people opportunity to have their moment. As Janne-Maree gains a member of her family, the childrens’ theatre group loses one very important member of its family, but I have a sneaking suspicion she will be back in five years when there is another little one ready to tread the boards.

I feel like today has been a week, and last week a month.

I haven’t had a normal night at home since last Sunday. I’m now working on three shows, The Last Eisteddfod who is needed at both cast and orchestra rehearsals, we’ve started work on Red, Hot & Cole and today I attended the first of two rehearsal for the children’s musical which I’m just doing keys for. The only night I didn’t spend at THE theatre was Friday night when I was at least at A theatre.

Friday night Greg, Chae, Tim and I all travelled to Sydney Theatre to see a really excellent production of Pippin, the first show by the new national musical theatre company, Kookaburra, led by Peter Cousens. It was a show at least Greg and I were very familar with as we both worked on a production a few years ago (me as pianist, Greg as percussionist/pit singer), and then we both saw the show again in Bankstown. Kookaburra’s production was a real pleasure. The direction was incredibly tight and effective, theatre without spectacle, but still dazzled. The cast were superb all round and the band were extremely effective, although a little *too* synthesized at times – I’m looking at you Mr. Synth Clarinet (there were also some mixing problems with too little of the four keyboards where we were sitting).

The script to Pippin has changed over the years, and when we first did our production around 2001, we used a then new ending (the show was written in the 70s by Wicked composer, Stephen Schwartz). This script was further changed with a false ending at the end of act one. This production seemed to make more sense than any other version I’ve seen, but that could mostly be attributed to the show’s director/choreographer, Ross Coleman.

I was thrilled to enjoy the show so thoroughly, and I left remembering the joys in the score (for me, The Right Track stands out), and being completely confused by the reviews that were so aggressive in panning the production. One issue though… they need to can the Australian anthem before the show. We all thought it was a trick start, and the arrangement the band played was about as “Wicked” as you can get. It was just truly weird and out of place before the show.

After the show we hung around for Up Close & Musical, the one hour cabaret night which was also a joy. For the details, I’ll refer you to James’ review

Given a bit of a sleep in Saturday morning, my internet modem died so I finally convinced someone to give me a ride to OraficeWorks where we were diligently ignored for some time before I could finally get what we needed. It had to wait when I got home as I popped straight out to orchestra rehearsal for The Last Eisteddfod. After that, Chae, Tim and I decided to see who could sing the highest in falsetto (Chae by about half an octave over the top of us… an astonishing High C), only to discover we’d done the whole thing with the front door to the theatre wide open.

Cut to five hours of sleep later and I was up for a 6 hour orchestra rehearsal for the kids show (I had my laptop so I caught up on some emails). My parents picked me up from the theatre afterwards and had to head into town to get some boxes for the move. I fell asleep in the back of the car, was home for 40 minutes then headed into town again for Jess’ farewell dinner before she heads on a cruise for her new work. My chest hurts from the laughing, and her story of a little boy who took a poo from his pants and put it on the floor in a supermarket before taking an easter egg from the easter bunny Jess was accompanying was gold. Just thought I should tell you.

The weekend is drawing its final breaths and I feel like I’ve lived a month in these few days. It isn’t stopping either. Continuing on, I don’t have a night at home again until a week from friday, and during that time I should have moved house. Right… As I thought to myself today, it wouldn’t be so bad if I was actually making a living out of it, or at least *some* money, but its crazy to keep going at this pace. I’m going to need a break after RH&C or I think I just might have an early heart attack or something. And don’t even think about saying the phrase “Uni Exams” near me.