Southend U3A

Theatre - Joan Bond

June 2012

Georgie was a sixty year old woman. She had a quiet life while her husband was alive, but now thought I want to live a little. She joined a group called the 'Can't Sing Choir'. People were nice there and she met a lively young woman teacher who suggested her coming along to an amateur theatre group. She figured it might be fun to look, as long as she wasn't asked to do anything.

A week later, after much soul searching as to whether she was a bit scared, she crept into the church hall. A young man instantly rose from his seat and welcomed her in. He was the stage manager and said, 'You will just have to watch this one, as, unless you can learn all the moves and the songs in 24 hours, it will have to be The Boyfriend, as this production of South Pacific goes on stage tomorrow.'

At the end of the rehearsal she was roped in with the others for a drink at the local pub. The cast were all ages and so friendly that she felt I could really take to this. Ruby, the teacher who had invited her to join, gave her a lift home, and, would you believe, at 11.00 o'clock.

'See you next week.' she said, 'Or, if you are willing, we could do with you to sell programmes at the theatre tomorrow.' Well, she was encaptivated at being at the stage door and dressed in her best, selling programmes, advising patrons what time the production should end and would they like to purchase a raffle ticket; she hadn't felt so alive for years.

The show was a success, almost a sell out, which was good, for the amount of money of putting on a show at the theatre was costly; apart from costumes, the trio of musicians and the backstage staff.

Well the show finished on Saturday and rehearsals commenced for the new production on Wednesday. After a few weeks she was getting to know the hang of it and enjoyed the company of other thespians. The young women particularly, as she was given a part in the chorus; they were great and helping her with the steps and giving her a shove in the right direction when she tended to go to the right when everyone else was facing left.

She listened to all the worries of the cast, as being older, they turned to her. She began to know the love life and the troubles at home, but it pleased her to think she was accepted as a friend. The fun and excitement of dressing up with show dresses, high heeled shoes and make up was pretty new to her and she found she was loving it all. All costumes for the chorus were supplied by themselves as the allowance for the show was £800 and this barely clothed the stars. The chorus, she loved the title, went to the charity shops for most of their wardrobe and 'The Boyfriend' had a scene where they all had to wear white gloves; there was such a rush on them that even they ran out.

One rehearsal the star didn't arrive, which was surprising as she was so keen, always on time. There was no word from her and she didn't come the next week. The producer was getting cross so I said I would go round to where she had digs and sort her out. The landlady said she had left suddenly two weeks ago with a man, who she thought was a bit rude and a rough with her.

Georgie contacted the producer and he said, 'Oh, don't worry, you know what girls are her age.'

Thinking of her own granddaughters, she was worried; it didn't seem right to her and she tried to ascertain if she had parents somewhere. Although all the girls had known her a bit, none really became her friend, she was a bit offhand, they said. Toby, the male lead, who had worked in the last production, said he had offered to see her home once or twice but she put him off.

We found later that she was only fifteen and had run away from home. Someone had informed her father of her photograph in the paper on her success in the previous show. I felt particularly sorry for her and wondered if she was so unhappy at home.

The show went on and Georgie learnt her steps and her words of the songs and rehearsals began in earnest putting the show together. One of the other girls had taken Pippa's part, but wasn't so drop dead gorgeous, but had a lovely voice. The songs were very catchy and she learned a part of the alto singer. It's always the hardest part as you don't really carry the tune like a soprano.

The positions on stage of the pieces was arranged, who went where and a chorus was the backbone of the production, so I felt some responsibility for getting it right. The producer didn't worry about my lack of expertise, he said if you smile a lot you can get away with anything. I had to smile my little chops off those evenings!

Everyone had a wonderful time; if you don't look for an audience you can pretend they are not there and just enjoy the singing, dancing and prancing. It made her feel glamorous, which makes a person stand tall and feel like a star. She enjoyed all the photo taking for the local paper etc. But, mistake . . . as she was leaving the theatre a police constable was waiting at the door and said, 'Joan Bond?'

'Um, yes.' I replied.'

'I am afraid I have to take you to the station. I believe you did a runner on your bail two years ago. You had better come with me.'

Such is vanity!