Over the last month and a half, I’ve been working with a fun group of people rehearsing for a play that’s starting in 5… 4… 3… 2… yeah, two days. Today is Wednesday and the first performance is this Friday night. A quick summary of Wage Warfare:
If you’ve ever had a job, or wished you hadn’t, this office comedy is for you. Even on a good day, tensions run high in the customer service department of The Treasure Chest because two of the female coworkers can’t stand each other, and a third is constantly stuck in the middle. But when a chance for a promotion suddenly appears, all three women find themselves fighting for the job, although they don’t all fight fair. A madhouse free-for-all of schemes, sabotage, and unlikely alliances erupts, unseen by their idiotic boss.
Sadly, I’m not a member of the cast this time around. I know, pity party for me, right? In the program, I’ll probably be listed as “Creative Consultant,” “Assistant Stage Manager” or “Smoke Machine Guy.” (I’m leaning toward that last one.) Hey, we need some smoke puffing up in the background a couple times during the show and someone needs to push the button on the machine—it’s totally within my skill set, so I’m the man for the job!
I could probably be “Stand-in” or “Understudy” as well. One cast member who plays “UPS Guy” has had problems adjusting his work schedule, so during the last few weeks, I was filling in for him on stage. The director was talking about how we were about the same size and could use the same outfit, I needed to learn his lines… thankfully, he’s only in a few scenes, so it didn’t take me too long to figure out the cues, what to say and when to say it. However, he’s been at all the dress rehearsals and should have no trouble from here on out, for which I’m also thankful, but I’m not going to spoil anything by telling you why.
This week, I’ve been giving people high-fives backstage because, hey, team spirit! One person preferred a fist bump last night, which was cool. It wasn’t as cool a minute later when I found out I had to fill the role of a teenage girl who couldn’t be there because she was taking an ACT prep course. (Yeah, I don’t understand her priorities, either.) I had to say one line last night. One line. I said it backstage as soon as they told me and said it wrong, so he took his fist bump back and it made my hand very sad.
Up until now, it’s just been rehearsals. The real fun happens over the next two weekends. And now it’s time to promote the show! Because I don’t want you all to miss out on my mad-crazy smoke machine button pushing skills.
WAGE WARFARE
April 12-13 & 19-20 at 7:30 p.m.
April 14 & 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Lakeville Area Arts Center
20965 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville, MN 55044
The official Facebook event page
The official website to buy tickets online ($14.50 for any seat in the theater!)
Hope to see a bunch of you there!
