Behind the scenes at Prospect Playhouse
About the article
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 July 1999.
Brought to you by
On that basis, there were still reams of items worthless to the ordinary beholder but precious in the eyes of stage crews: links of "sausages" and rubber chickens, for example. They filled shelves newly constructed by Peter Phillips and Frenchy Johnson.
Mr. Phillips heads the theatre management committee which organised the work parties. Apart from prop sorting and costume storing, workers painted the stairwell and two new storage rooms.
In an unusual family afternoon outing, Alan and Flick Brooks brought their daughter Hilary and her friend Catherine Healy, a total of four paintbrushes put to good use. A major project was undertaken by Paul deFreitas and Clive Hinds, who tiled the floor and walls of the servery - an area from which food is served after being prepared off the premises.
The recently revamped bar area received a smart walnut finish from Dave Godfrey and Penny Phillips.
A certain amount of frivolity was inevitable, as when props reminded the volunteers of the plays in which they had been used. Who, for example, can pick up a goblet without wanting to sing "Drink, drink, drink..."?
Then there was Dave, or Dr. Godfrey as he is known during the week. In his dental office he is well accustomed to filling CONT'D ON FACING PAGE cavities, so what better task at the theatre than to fill the cavities left by knots in lumber.
Joking aside, CDS members were responding to a serious task. The theatre was recently extended by ten feet on the west side of the building for the length of the auditorium and foyer. Although this amounts to less than ten per cent of the original square footage, planning permission was required because the public uses the building. That construction was done by professional contractors, but the theatre has yet to receive its certificate of occupancy for the extension. While getting ready for that examination, CDS also faces the annual inspections required for its liquor licence.
With the bulk of the upstairs work completed, CDS directors are looking for another strong turnout this weekend to tackle the downstairs storage areas. The society has a membership of about 300. Two-thirds are "social" members, leaving about 100 who can be called on for work parties. CDS chairman Colin Wilson said the turnout last weekend was very gratifying. "It shows there's a lot of enthusiasm among members," he said.
Part of the reason, he theorised, is that "It's our own theatre to take care of. It's part of us. A person can come to a production, look around and say, 'I painted that door.' It sounds silly, but that's what it is: people take pride in the work they contribute.
"We could have got a contractor, but it's not the same thing," he continued. "That's not what the Drama Society is about: it's about a feeling of belonging."
