Peter Phillips ‘Gets the show on the road’
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from September 1976.
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Playing Friday and Saturday evenings, September 17 and 18 at Cayman Brac High School, the play's only major changes will have to do with set and staging, adapted by Peter and his crew for the two-show run.
This will be Peter's second experience in restaging a local production for touring-- the last time was also with the Cayman Drama Society and a play directed by Stewart Hurst.
"The stage manager has total responsibility for putting on the show after the dress rehersal stage," Peter says. He had to organise the Brac trip, and then set about appraising the modifications necessary for a successful run on the Brac.
"The stage is so different at the Brac High School," Peter continues. "It's not really even a stage. The front of the stage at George Town Town Hall (present home for CDS Productions) is 13 feet 6 inches high, on the Brac, the room is only 9 feet high so all the scenery had to be reduced in size. "At the Town Hall here, the stage is 34 feet by 24 feet. On the Brac, it is only 22 feet by 8 feet so we have to extend the stage by 8 feet in order to perform. Another problem is that because the stage platform is only 12 and a half inches off the floor in the Brac children often end up sitting on the edge of the stage which is distracting to performers.
"But despite all the handicaps presented by transforming the three classrooms into a playhouse, it makes for a very homey atmosphere.
"Because there are no provisions, whatsoever, for stage lighting, we'll have to carry all our own lighting. It will be necessary to wire the room the day of the first performance."
Bill Bazelman, assistant stage manager, Brian Allison, the sound man, and Brian Kenyon, the front of house manager for the production, will all assist in the building of the set that day.
"Everyone, including the performers will help carry chairs and move desks." The actual set will be shipped to the Brac during the week ahead. Cayman Airways has added another section on Friday to transport some of the actors, props, and the set construction crew early that afternoon.
Of the 33 people scheduled to go from the Drama Society, the remaining ones will take the regular flight arriving around 6.15 p.m. A movement run through is scheduled for 6.30 p.m. and the performance at 8 p.m. Peter became interested in stage work through Dennis Smith with a production called "See How They Run" in 1970. He assisted with some problems at that time and became the stage manager of most of the productions since.
The most difficult one he recalls staging was "Jonny Belinda," performed at the Cinema. In one day, he says, they built everything, erected a set, put up curtains, wired and set up lighting, and ran the show for a week. "It's the only time we've ever had air conditioning," he said laughing.
Since lighting is his profession and Peter's always been interested in community work, his contribution to local theatre production has been a natural.
Quite happy to work strictly behind the scenes, Peter says what really satisfies him is getting the show on the road, the applause, seeing everyone really enjoying the fruits of one's labours.
Thanks to that attitude, Caymanians in the Brac will have a special treat in store next weekend.
