WCT Memories 2

Every production has a story to tell. Thankfully, there are no perfect productions. Tricks are played. Lines are forgotten. Props don't work. The weather doesn't cooperate. Those incidents can be trying at the time but they become part of history of the show and the theatre. Winfield Community Theatre has it share of stories to remember and these pages are for that. These memories are not in any special order and are based on member's submissions. If you have a memory to share or want to add to what had been written, please use the form at the bottom of each page.

Ten Nights in a Bar Room - 1983

On the last night of Ten Nights in a Bar Room, one of the gals was singing, "Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight." She was to take a big swig out a bottle as she was singing. On other nights the bottle had been filled with tea, but on this night, one of the other actors put whiskey in the bottle. He did not know the person singing made it a habit never to eat or drink anything on stage because she was afraid of something like this. As she tipped up the bottle, she smelled the whiskey and got tickled, but kept a straight face. She spoiled the joke, but everyone had a big laugh at the cast part.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

The Dresser - 1984

In The Dresser one of the actresses was back stage in the proper position for her entrance. The actress on stage skipped three pages and suddenly she heard her cue line. She scampered on stage and the act was finished without the three pages ever being delivered and no one knew the difference.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

M*A*S*H - 1994

In M*A*S*H, the actor playing one of the leads had gray hair. He wanted to change it to brown so he would look younger. Something happened with his hair coloring and he had a chartreuse hairdo for weeks.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

Doubles - 1996

In Doubles, one actor was well-known for waiting until the last minute to learn his lines. At dress rehearsal, he missed a line and broke up the rest of the cast when he said, "I got it, I got it - the show doesn't open until tomorrow!"
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

The Odd Couple, Female Version - 1995

In The Odd Couple (FV), the two actors playing Spanish Romeos had their hair and mustaches, which they had grown for the part, dyed black. Their hair was also parted down the middle. One of the actors normally had gray hair with a side part. After the performance, an elderly woman who had seen many WCT performances approached the actor who normally had gray hair. She asked where this actor was. He was listed in the program but wasn't in the show. He tried to explain that he was in the play but the makeup crew had done a marvelous job in changing him to a Spanish person. She left the theatre convinced that he was not telling the truth to her.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

The Barn

Early on, the men's restroom consisted of a long narrow aisle and a long urinal running East and West. There was a piece of burlap from top to bottom to shield the occupants from those persons going from the front of the stage to the back. Sometimes ladies would use this traffic way for a fast costume change. They would sometimes make a comment and sometimes would try to silently slip by. One night, a woman wanted to use this aisle and didn't want a man to back into her. She said, "Coming through, hold on." The urinal was being used by a guy who yelled, "What do you think I'm doing!"
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

Inherit The Wind - 1973

The play Inherit the Wind, dealt with the famous Scope's "Monkey Trial" in Tennessee. During one of the scenes, the director required a live monkey to be on stage for use by the attorney portraying the famous lawyer, Clarence Darrow. One of the problems seemed to be that the monkey was was difficult to manage. (Someone mentioned that he was just like a lawyer!)
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

Mr. President - 1972

In Mr. President,the director wanted to use a live elephant. It just happened that there was a circus in town during the week for performance. An elephant and elephant trainer appeared on stage every night. The director, Ms. Betty Gibson, was a fastidious and beautiful woman who did not take kindly to the body odor of the trainer. She allowed him to take a daily shower at her home. His stage presence may not have been any better, but as a result of the daily shower, the director was certainly much happier.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

The Sunshine Boys - 1980

During one performance of The Sunshine Boys, the actors skipped an entire scene. After the play, an audience member stated to one of the male leads; I've seen this play a number of times, and it seems like tonight it was shorter than I remember it." The lead agreed that it was, indeed, shorter than it should have been and told him the reason.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

Cheaper By The Dozen - 1993

In Cheaper By the Dozen, the old light board went out and it was necessary to do the show in very minimal lighting. Roger Moon, professor of theatre at Southwestern College, was in the audience that evening and said later to the director, "What a creative way to do the lighting for such an old show. It made you feel like you were back in that time period with the low lights - good job." He didn't know and wasn't told the actual cause of the "good lighting technique."
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - 1972

In You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, the person playing Charlie Brown was driving in a car in the afternoon of opening night and was struck by a train. He suffered minor injuries, but could not perform that night. The director, Bruce Rogers, with the play book in his hand and having knowledge of the blocking, since he had done it, played Charlie Brown. He wore a paper sack on his head much of the time with his lines inside the sack. The real Charlie Brown recovered sufficiently to perform the next night and for the other performances.
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

Un-Identified Show

One of the male leads in a musical in speaking of his role as an alleged professor of music was quoted a saying, "It seems to be natural to me to be playing a part of someone who doesn't know one note from another - because I don't either."
Submitted by Warren Andreas

 

   Sometimes the best parts of a production happen off stage, during rehearsals, or when the cast and crew are just hanging out. We want to remember all those stories. If you have a story you want to share, please use the form below. We will add it to this page.