There Is Nothing Like a Dame

Bad news on the Panto WhatsApp group chat this morning. Our dame has had to pull out of the remaining three performances as he has been struck down by this flu bug (I have a horrible feeling I may be responsible there) and apart from having no voice, he just did not feel well enough to perform.
Whilst most of us posted messages of sympathy and wondered what was going to happen, the director was working away behind the scenes and there was a welcome announcement at lunchtime that fellow blipper dunkyc had stepped up to the plate and would be our dame for today and tomorrow. Some say he is a knight in shining armour, saving the day for all concerned. I reckon he just missed wearing a dress.
He saw the show last week and had a rundown of the basics with the director this afternoon, but it’s been very much a case of pulling on the tights, putting on the slap and donning the wig, before striding on to the stage, script in hand.
Though not before we had a bit of fun with the audience. As the show was about to start, the director came out through the curtains to announce the Dame was ill and we would have to cancel the show. Cue Duncan standing up at the back of the hall and volunteering to stand in - after all, by a massive coincidence, he was already wearing makeup!
And it all went very well. The audience were totally on our side and they were treated to several verbal and physical ad-libs in addition to what was written in the script.
There was very definitely an edge to tonight’s performance - you could feel the adrenaline on stage - but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. Quite the opposite if, like me, you’re happy to go “off-piste” as far as the script is concerned!
The old adage “The Show Must Go On” was never so true as it was tonight. Only two more performances to go, so we might just make it. Except, the Evil Henchman has been losing his voice as the night wore on so maybe we need another sub warming up on the touch line…