Nothing like a bit of Fleetwood Mac for inspiration. That was our encore song for our cabaret show, Love Lust & Everything in Between. Yep. Cabaret Show. Let me backtrack 12 months.
I was sharing a coffee with my friend Celeste and we were bemoaning the fact that people around us see us as one particular way and we're feeling frustrated knowing that there is more to us than people see. BUT, and here's the difference....instead of just having a whine about it and continuing on with our lives as they were, we decided to CHANGE our worlds. Everyone thought we were mad. No one thought we could do it. Lots of people said it was a mistake. Some people said we were brave (but the intonation was "cray-cray")
Discussions around a kitchen table turned a dream into a plan and another friend joined our team, Barbara.
The music came first. And then from the music, came a story. From the story came a script. From a script came a talent call out. Some answered no, some answered yes. Those that answered yes, put their faith into the hands of amateurs with a trust I didn't know really existed. Suddenly we were five, with Jess and Gus on board.
Meetings around a kitchen table became instructions to cast members. Rehearsals in a hall soon got changed to rehearsals in a kitchen with a dining table and a rug pushed back against the windows. A couple of practices with a band on a hot summers day in a boiling hot garage and we had a working "practice cd". More rehearsals in a kitchen with two boys listening from the lounge room and offering "criticism".
A venue was found, a sound technician came on board, lights were borrowed, insurances checked and all that remained was the necessary audience.
The date grew closer. Tickets were handed out to our cast and friends, family, work colleagues were alternately begged, coerced, bribed and pleaded with to buy tickets. Finally, we had enough sales to cover costs. Phew. Met the required number of 85.
Time crept up on us and before we knew it the day had arrived. A flurry of last minute tickets were bought and at 132 seats, the show was officially a sell out. SHIT. Now we really, truly have to be good.
Bump in occurs. Lines forgotten, songs off key, performers ill. Power cords missing. Surely it will be a disaster?
5:30 pm rocks around and the crowd is early. Tickets say DOORS OPEN AT 6PM but people are early. Cast is not ready. PANIC. PANIC. PANIC. For better or worse LOVE, LUST & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN is on.
Hearts, pounding, voices lifted, characters on display. It's happening people. I can't even describe the performance. But those who have performed know that it's a kind of magic, when it's right and the next two hours for us, are magical.
8:45. Show's over. Bows taken. Thanks are read out to all who helped and supported and then finally I say "Tonight was our Dream...and when it comes to Love, and Dreaming, don't stop. The band plays our final song and with joy and exuberance we sing our hearts out to the people who came to see us. I can see mobile phones being waved in the air (the way lighters used to be) I can see people on their feet dancing with us, singing with us, I can see clapping and cheering and stomping and the world stops for just a little bit.
We did it. From merely a seed, we grew something amazing and we changed our world. I will forever be proud of this achievement.
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