I Just Work Here

Anyone who knows me or knows my family knows that we love theatre. We've been involved in theatre at some point or the other almost every year. My parents were founding members of the Washington Area's Hindi Theatre group, Natya Bharati and as a result, both my brother and i were exposed to a lot of the fun that goes on in front of the curtain and behind it during a show. This past weekend I was lucky enough to be involved in another one; this time I took my place behind the curtain.... although I was actually in front of it. But more on that later.

The program was put together by two of my aunties who are distant relatives (or so I like to say); Vandana Gupte and Rani Varma. The two of them, who are sisters famous for their acting and singing, put together a show which is about the life of a woman. Any woman. As the play describes through video clips, live acting and song, the life of a woman is quite unique, yet there are elements of it that are so universal that it can truly be said that all women are sisters and that no one else can understand them as well as another woman. (I suppose that's one of the reasons why so many of us guys suffer from foot-in-the-mouth disease).

Although the two of them have performed the show on numerous occasions, they travel from city to city and count on local support to help them out. There are usually many willing volunteers to help out with a show and as such, it presents another opportunity for the comradeship of the stage to bring together a group of people for a few hours of tension, nervous anticipation, but overall, entertainment and fun. I had volunteered to do anything needed in and around the play. I am good at general help or something in particular. Somehow, word got out that I was able to program my VCR and set the clock on it so it didn't perpetually blink "12:00". As a result, I was asked to help out with the technical side of things, namely the lights and the sound.

Now I believe Jerry Seinfeld said it best that guys often don't have a clue about technology, but we generally look and hope for a sign that makes it so obvious what to do that we don't have to ask for instructions or directions. In this case, the job was made easier by the fact that the light cues were designed to be controlled from a pair of buttons so that was set. Prior to any show, you always try to get a handle on what will be needed, what logistical concerns may arise and basically, who will be doing what. But no matter how much planning you do, there are always little problems that crop up.

Still, these little 'set-backs' are what make theatre so exciting. It's amazing what the audience doesn't realize. It's enlightening to be backstage at shows like this. Most of what the audience sees is solid in appearance but it is often held together with lots of masking tape and a little bit of luck. (Incidentally... if you are ever taping something down on a wood floor.... 3M's Painter's Masking Tape is quite good!). Although I ended up watching the show from the side of the stage, ducking down on occasion to avoid distracting the audience, I marvelled at the wonderful story and acting and singing and was happy to have been a part of it. It just reinforces what I love about theatre.