“The Reluctant Tartuffe”
I had intended to launch this blog early in the rehearsal period for Tartuffe. You know what they say about “good intentions.” So here we are just over a week from opening night and I’m finally posting my first entry.
Of course, I had also intended to music-direct this show and wield a baton during the performances, rather than a scourge (more about that later). However a lack of baritones at the auditions caused Deb Niezgoda and me to rethink things. Given the number of talented women who sang for us, we were in the enviable position of being able to double-cast most of the women’s roles (though we had to bid adieu to one of our Elmire’s, Eve, due to family commitments).
So I reluctantly agreed to take on the title role, right around the time Blair Eig agreed to tackle the significantly-longer role of Orgon. Interestingly, Orgon is the role the playwright Moliere played in performances of his work.
It has been an interesting experience, to say the least, to oversee music rehearsals, as well as musical details during staging rehearsals, and then switch hats to sing Tartuffe. Add to the mix my responsibility for scheduling rehearsals, rehearsal venues, rehearsal pianists, etc. and you’ll understand why I was glad to be required to shave off my ever-whitening beard to achieve period authenticity in the role.
I really must sign off now and get back to work. I’ll put a link to this blog on the website and see what comes of it. . .