If you saw the show, or looked at our production photos, you noticed a number of "cattail" set pieces. These were rolled/carried on and off stage throughout the show-- usually in a hurry and usually in the dark! Some had wheels, some sandbags, but all had protruding sharp edges, and seemed to have a knack for hiding behind that dark corner backstage. Jane Helfrich, our brilliant stage manager, wrote this poem, and presented it to us on our closing night.
by Jane Helfrich, Stage Manager
In early spring when ducklings hatch
Actors in a musical the director must cast.
Props and costumes and scripts are obtained,
"And I'll be using lots of cattails on stage" mused Dane.
Some Honksters didn't 'til work call know
In marshes and wetlands wild cattails grow.
Reaching high and waving side by side,
Cattails are perfect for ducklings, and goslings and froglets to hide.
Rauschian* cattails are important to use
For a pond side illusion
The Roadside audience views.
Brilliant and glowing in the underwater scene,
Few would guess...those cattails are mean!
Backstage left and fright each night
There's another, darker story...
Cattails are vicious, Cattails are cruel!
The details can be gory.
Blunders? There have been many...
Alas, and curses, quite a few.
Moving cattails is awkward... a real challenge for this crew!
Some of us have tripped, some us have fallen...
And we've had our headsets ensnared!
We've forgotten to move them, or moved them too soon.
We've set out cattail doubles when one (oh! That there would be none!) would
do,
We've put them in in-correct spaces!
But, wait.... Those mistakes are forgiven...
Cattails don't matter.
The singing's been fine,
There's audience laughter
And smiles all around.
Isn't that what we're after?
It's late spring...and the musical was well cast!
*Rauschian = refers to Brian Rausch, master carpenter and designer