October 2016 • Country Life in BC
41 Sparks begin to fly with the L’il Abner rehearsals
When we left off last time, Henderson got his
comeuppance when he realized that Janice would be his new boss. While Henderson’s world seemed to be crashing, Deborah and Doug McLeod began rehearsing for the spring musical. Rural Redemption (part 77) continues ...
The spring musical was off to the races. Once word spread that the rehearsals had begun, a steady stream of willing – or mildly coerced – participants started signing on. Gladdie auditioned and appraised the talent and
The Woodshed
Chronicles BOB COLLINS
wrestled with scene selection. There were musical rehearsals in Jade Song’s music room nearly every afternoon but there was no sign of the first stage rehearsal. Doug McLeod dropped by to see Edna Fitzpatrick.
“Have you been seen Gladdie lately? I’m a little worried that this musical is going to overwhelm her.” Edna nodded.
“I’m glad you dropped by. I was going to give you a call. She looked completely worn out when I stopped in to see her on Tuesday. She’s got her heart set on doing this but I don’t know if she’s really up to taking on so much of it.” “I’ve got the same feeling. Do you think she might be willing to let go of some of it?” “Maybe. Leave it with me for a day or two. I might know someone who would help if they were asked.”
Coffee?
As soon as Doug was gone, Edna picked up the phone. “Val? This is Edna
Fitzpatrick. I wonder if I might take you up on that cup of coffee you offered me?” Half an hour later, Edna pulled into Valentine and Arnold Zimmer’s driveway. The Zimmer’s had purchased four acres of the old Strand place almost three years ago but hadn’t moved in until their new house was finished six months ago. Tyler Koski designed it and had overseen the construction. Edna was curious to see just what he had come up with. The house was modest and unobtrusive and blended quietly into the landscape at the end of the Strand’s old orchard – so unlike many of the garish monstrosities that had sprung up on other places that had been sold to newcomers.
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Inside, it was lovely: big windows in the right place to let in the view and sunlight, stunning woodwork cut from beams re-cycled from one of the old buildings that was beyond salvation, and no more walls than bedroom and bathroom modesty demanded.
High school drama
Edna first met Val at the mailboxes in the store a couple of weeks before Christmas. She’d struck up a conversation and learned that Arnold Zimmer was a retired physics professor and Val had spent more than 20 years teaching high school drama classes. The
conversation ended with an invitation to
come by for coffee, take a look at the house and meet Arnie. After a tour of the house, the subject of Gladdie and the spring musical was broached. “I’ve been dying to see your house but I have to confess another motive for coming by.”
Edna told them about the spring musicals of the past and how they had dwindled and how Gladdie wanted to mount one last production as a tribute to all of those that had gone before, and that it was going to be dedicated to the memory of their old friend, Cec Montgomery. She told them that Gladdie’s friends were worried about
her and she remembered that Val had been a drama teacher and wondered if she might be interested in shouldering some of the directing? “I’d love to. What is the musical?”
“Lil Abner.”
“Oh, Lil Abner is such fun. I’ve done it twice before with the school. What exactly do you need?”
It was quickly determined that, Gladdie willing, Val Zimmer would become co-director of the spring musical and take over the stage direction.”
“I’ll even throw in Arnie if you still need a Marry’n Sam or an Evil Eyed Fleagle.” Arnold Zimmer protested. “Hush, Arnold. It will be good for you. You’ll have a chance to meet our neighbours and it will get your nose out of your books for a while.”
Val Zimmer spent two hours with Gladdie the following morning. By mid- afternoon, Gladdie had requested all concerned to welcome their new neighbour and stage director.
First rehearsal
Valentine Zimmer leapt quickly and decisively into the breech. Two days later, she started stage rehearsals. She spoke to Jade, who said that Daisy and Abner were the most musically ready. She scheduled their first rehearsal for the same evening.
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Deborah and Doug met Val at the community hall at 7:30.
Ready to sing
“I know this is short notice but I wanted to get started as soon as possible. Time always runs out at the other end so anything we can look after now makes it easier on all of us in the long run. Jade tells me that you are both ready to sing so I’d like to run through the stage blocking for the numbers you are doing together. There are no sets yet so I’ll mark your spots with chalk. Jade has given me a download of the music.” Five minutes later, Deborah and Doug sang Mainly You. Val sat with her mouth open and her eyebrows raised.
“That was incredible! There is so much chemistry in your voices. So much potential. But you can’t sing a love song like this when you are three feet apart and not even looking at one another. Deborah, I want you to stand right in front of Abner right here on this mark.”
She chalked an X on the stage less than a foot in front from Abner’s mark.
“Move to this spot and look up into his eyes while you sing,” she said. “Abner, you only have eyes for Daisy. Take her hands while you’re singing and hold them
between you.”
They repeated the number. “So much better, but you are still not committing to the full potential. You are in love and you are saying so. You are committing to each other; take full advantage of that passion. Let’s try it again but this time, just at the end, lets have Daisy lay her cheek on Abner’s chest and Abner put his arms around her.”
Conflicted emotions
Both Deborah and Doug were in a flux of conflicted emotions. Doug was still holding her hands and they were looking into one another’s eyes.
“Do you think we can manage this one more time?” Doug asked in a whisper. Deborah swallowed
difficultly and blew the breath from her lungs.
“In for a penny, in for a pound.”
Val re-started the music and they sang it again. At the end, Daisy laid her cheek on Abner’s chest and he wrapped his right arm around her. Then lifted her chin with his left hand, stared briefly into her eyes and they kissed. “Bravo!” shouted Val. “Brava! What emotion! What passion! Everyone will see that you are in love! That was perfect.”
To be continued ...
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