| This year I was offered a small job teaching | | | | are desperate to try? This is where to start. Our |
| acting in a local theatre school for children. I didn't | | | | next productions, two, actually, are to try to raise |
| apply for it - it was just offered as a kind of a | | | | money for the next big project. They are 'I Do, I |
| bi-product of what I have always done, which is | | | | Do' and 'Tomfoolery' - yes, neither of them |
| working with others of all ages in putting on | | | | Sondheim, but the end result we hope will be |
| shows. I was delighted. And so, it turned out, | | | | funds to perform 'Follies'. Of course I will be |
| were the young people involved in the course. | | | | seeking funds from very source possible - just |
| I have done amateur stuff, acting, singing, | | | | went on a course to learn more skills to this end. |
| directing, writing for kids, making costume - all my | | | | 'Follies' is a wonderful show which calls for actors |
| life. The first question I asked when entering | | | | from about late teens to seventies. It has a big |
| school was 'Do you do plays?' When answered in | | | | cast, with lots of cameo roles for women of all |
| the negative I offered to write one. The teacher, | | | | ages. Its cast reflects rather the well the fact |
| a sensitive and wonderful person, allowed me to | | | | that far more women partake in amateur theatre |
| 'help' her put on a small play. I loved it, the other | | | | than men. The reasons for this have been often |
| kids loved it and so did our doting parents when | | | | discussed. They cause arguments wherever you |
| they saw it. It really was a cut above your | | | | go in amateur theatre. Men work too hard to be |
| average Nativity Play. Or so they told me. At five | | | | able to do it, women need something to fill their |
| I believed what I was told. | | | | time, women are naturally better at singing etc., |
| I went on doing this kind of thing through school, | | | | etc. The sad fact is that not so many men |
| into the youth club I volunteered at and into adult | | | | perform. I think it may have to do with the fact |
| life when I found a local group keen to use my | | | | that when boys' voices break they get out of the |
| talents. Of course I volunteered there. | | | | habit of performing and take up sports and |
| But finally I had to start my own group. This was | | | | activities that fill their time. I think they may not |
| due to my love for (obsession for?) the musical | | | | be quite as outgoing as women. But we are not |
| of Stephen Sondheim. He is not much performed | | | | short of men in our group, or in our area. |
| by amateurs in the UK. His shows a very difficult | | | | And the other lovely thing is that there are many |
| to do well: expensive to stage, technically very | | | | people in our town who are refusing to give up |
| demanding, and need a very good Musical Director | | | | their amateur performing just because they are |
| and band. I knew all this when I started up, but | | | | getting on a bit. In one of the groups I am |
| went on, regardless, to form the group, called | | | | associated with I am among people much older |
| 'Into Sondheim' (because we were) and put on | | | | than myself, whose skill and enthusiasm is |
| 'Into the Woods'. My wonderful son, a musician | | | | boundless. I am not thinking of giving any of this |
| (bass player, keyboards and composer) worked | | | | up yet. Why should I with such great examples of |
| for almost nothing, producing a version of the | | | | continuing well into later life given me by my |
| band parts for five or six people (I cannot quite | | | | wonderful friends. |
| remember now) and a group of very talented | | | | So, are you still performing? Would you like to |
| people, at least half of whom could not read | | | | start? Wherever you go there will be groups just |
| music) worked on the production. It was much | | | | waiting for you to contact them. And you don't |
| enjoyed by performers and audience alike. | | | | have to perform. You could always help make |
| Since then we have performed the same musical | | | | scenery, costume, do fund-raising and publicity for |
| again (popular request), 'Assassins', Sunday in the | | | | them. You will meet lots of lovely people, extend |
| Park with George' and 'Merrily We Roll Along'. The | | | | your friendship circle and keep on enjoying life. I |
| casts have included people of all ages and | | | | just might give up in twenty years or so. But only |
| experience levels, and we have never turned | | | | if they force me to. It is the source of pleasure |
| anyone down who wanted to have a go. You | | | | and the provider of vibrant and wonderfully |
| don't read music? OK. we'll make tapes for you to | | | | talented company. No - I don't think I'm giving up |
| learn from. You've never been on the stage but | | | | any time soon. |