On Saturday 20 November, Caught in the Net came to an end at Wyong Drama Group. This was a project that had occupied virtually my every waking moment for the last month, and a substantial amount of time for the two months prior to that. That's why there have been no blog posts for ages.
The show was, without doubt, the best thing I've ever directed, and it was the funniest thing on stage I have ever seen. It's a real testament to both the cast, and my crew (Sharon, Scott, Josh and the rest).
To see more specific info, including a hundred and fifty photos, podcasts and videos, see the Drama Group web pages at www.wyongdramagroup.com.au/caught_in_net.htm and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, there is a nasty taste in my mouth from certain drama group members who seem to be a little upset that the show was as succesful as it was. I normally DON'T produce farces, but this one was a real tour-de-force. My respect for Ray Cooney jumped umpteen-fold after getting to know this play pretty well from a three month rehearsal period. Whereas before I was dismissive of farces in general, I can see just how much detail Cooney has put into the play. There are a number of setups where the payoff doesn't take place for ages. For instance a snorkel and mask is dropped as a setup on page 27 when the wearer has to answer a phone. This action is quite insignificant at the time.
Yet on page 43 the payoff comes when another character unseen to the audience, puts on the snorkel and mask and uses it to hide his identity in one of the (many) funniest moments of the show. Sheer comic genius from Cooney, and the play was full of so many details that you can see it must have taken him over a year to write the thing.
With all these positives, why the negatives? I can only put it down to jealousy. You could see during the leadup to the show that the group wanted it to be a success, but just not TOO MUCH of a success. The laughter emanating from the audience during the second act, and that final incredibly appreciative applause at the end for the Curtain Calls was an absolute joy to behold. It made it all worthwhile.
But alas, not all is quiet on the Western Front. At a committee meeting, four days after the play was over (I am Treasurer) several members of the committee saw fit to really put the boot in over absolutely petty issues that weren't even my fault. I copped a grilling for an hour and ten minutes. Whilst I did get support from a couple of committee members, the other four went out of their way to make things hard on me. And they didn't really have to - they chose to do so.
Given the success of the show and all the positives that came about, it's a real pity that our Drama Group mission statement went completely out the window: Wyong Drama Group Inc. strives to provide a variety of quality theatre for the community, and to support, nurture and showcase the diverse talents of its members in an atmosphere of fun, friendship and enthusiasm. What a joke.
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