behind the scenes...

 Today I had fun helping our wonderful stage set designer set the lights for the upcoming play at First Pres Theater, August 18-27. The play is a comedy, "Bedroom Farce" and I'm particularly excited about this one because my son has a role in it.  My job today was to push buttons and flip switches while Rae climbed the ladder (a very tall extension ladder that she had to move from place to place across the stage in order to set the 30 plus lights that are involved in this production.)  I simply sat in front of the light board and followed directions when she said things like "Turn on number 33." and "Tighten the focus on 502."  I'm not sure how tall that ladder is, but, when extended up into the rafters, it's at least 20 rungs high.  Another understood part of my job is to call 911 if she falls off the ladder.  She never has, thank goodness.  Her climbs up and down that ladder are much less nerve wracking to watch now than they were a few years ago.  These days all those high lights are permanently hung and Rae climbs up to get them pointed where she wants them, and sometimes, like today, replace burned out and broken bulbs.  When I first started helping her with lights, she had to carry each light (50 pounds at least) up to the rafters, attach it, plug it in and then adjust it.  I'm writing about this today because I did enjoy the process but also because I think people aren't always aware of the behind the scenes work that goes in to staging a play. The stage sets and costumes are pretty obvious but those smoothly transitioning light changes and sound cues are often just taken for granted.  And actually, that's how it should be.  Your attention, when you see this show (and you really ought to) should be focused on the actors.