Light, Sound, Camera, Action!

(klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie)

My windows can’t read the Mac DVD.. It’ll have to be a picture of the label for now then!

Cast Mirror of the Moon Goddess. Above: Fanny Embregts as Amanda, Liseth Horsten (music) and Cheta Urmila, below: Charles Waagenaar as Male Reflection and Pauline van Hoek as his female counterpart. Photo: Mariska Chardet, Amsterdam

This is it

The doors open. The room looks mysterious with the blue light on the mirror and a veiled moon in the background. The audience slowly take their seats. A late visitor leads to a small delay. As soon as he arrives, I give the sign to start. The lights go down… Liseth appears in the spotlight and embarks on the opening song.

Sudden uncertainty

In the moments after I have taken my place in the control room next to soundman Bas, a sudden shiver of uncertainty hits me: Did I structure it right? Will the public get the message? Will the storyline be clear enough? I take a deep breath and let go: it’s going to be exactly what it should be tonight!

It works!

Fanny steps on stage and the story of Amanda unfolds. At the first sound of laughter from the audience I feel my shoulders relax: it works! The eruption of emotions in scene four comes as a complete surprise and the audience roars with laughter. Charles, for whom this is his first ever performance, convinces as the male reflection, and entices during his monologue. Pauline is funny, seductive and radiant and Fanny elevates the play to a higher plane with extraordinary facial expressions and theatrical poses. There is a real spark in her interaction with Pauline, it’s a joy to watch. Liseth’s spotlight fades up for each song and she appears and disappears each time like a fairy. Her presence is powerful en feminine, her voice melodic and dynamic.

It’s the end scene already

The end scene – newly thrown in the day before – is worth studying, the audience applauds and I am running it over again in my mind. It takes a few seconds before I realize that the actors will invite me on stage in a minute – oops! – I grab my gift bag and run to the entrance-doors. In my rush I can’t get the bag to open, so I throw it on the floor somewhere. Fanny is already making her way over – gee it’s dark on these stairs ….

This is the moment

Out of the corner of my eye I can see that some people are standing. Wow, they do have their standing ovation, great! As soon as I step into onto the stage, the applause intensifies and the rest of the audience rises up as one. The penny drops … they were waiting for me! I fill exhilarated, make a bow, goose bumps run from head to toe …

I point towards the actors, towards the control room, the applause continues. I congratulate Liseth, Pauline, Charles and Fanny with their success. The audience continues to applaud. After another bow, Fanny and Pauline turn to leave the stage. Those girls – they are such a support, have been from the start!

Whirlwind

After that, the events roll on in quick succession: my best friend congratulates me; Zeus-with-camera demands an initial reaction; I suddenly tremble all over; left and right people stop to tell me what it has meant for them; Liseth is praised for her voice, Fanny for her great achievement; my parents and sister congratulate me and hand over a bottle of pink champagne; amidst all that a radio interview – I am enjoying myself tremendously.

Part of a bigger plan

An animated conversation springs up with Marian Smolders & assistants, like Zeus ambassadors for the arts for the town of Middelbeers. I leave them to go and find Zeus to make the formal introductions. Zeus then proudly calls his assistants: all MoonScouts present line up next to him. It feels like such an honour to stand with them and be part of this!

End of a special project

The doors close at 23:00. A final drink in the local cafe, then it’s over. A clear and bright crescent moon, high in the sky, guides us home. Deeply grateful I drift into sleep ..

Wanted: 3 sparkling actors

(klik hier voor de volledige Nederlandse advertentie tekst)

It is getting more real every day, very exciting! The advert for actors embodying the three characters in the play is up on the board at the Academy of Arts in Tilburg, and on the Dutch website. 

In the show, the three characters comment with humor and clarity on the inner struggle they go through. The Reflections give advice, sometimes in a few pointy sentences, sometimes in a happy or sentimental song, until the lead character at last finds the key and discovers the magic inside. Read more »