Moving on from sadness, all together now
Who better to talk about the sad loss of theatre and its happy return than Carrie Mines?
A retired registered nurse, Mines now has a part-time associate professor role at McMaster University. A song and dance actress as well, she performs on the Drury Lane stage in Burlington regularly.
She was coproducer of Little Shop of Horrors," the show Drury Lane opened in October 2020. It played two performances and was closed abruptly when COVID-19 struck a number of members of the cast and crew. One member, Jeanne Montague, died.
That experience was absolutely devastating. We worked very hard to stringently meet all public health guidelines and provincial directives. Despite knowing that everyone accepted the risks when they became involved, the board felt deeply responsible. We made decisions based on what we knew at the time and trusted guidance of those in authority," Mines says.
Still, the sadness, regret, fear, disappointment and guilt were relentless emotions for quite a while. But it is important to remember we had a wee respite from the weight of the pandemic while we were in the theatre. Laughter and joy were present. We were brave and courageous and tried to bring joy to our community."
Now, a year later, Mines is back, producing and singing in the next Drury Lane production.
It's been a long year of shutdown for all theatres," Mines said. And there were expenses to be met. Those amounted to $2,000 a month for Drury Lane. We struggled over how and when to reopen safely. Music Theatre International offered a royalty-free revue of Broadway songs called All Together Now.' They promoted it as a fundraiser for theatres around the world to welcome everyone back to the theatre. This seemed a wonderful opportunity for us to reopen gently, raise some money in a safe way and participate in a worldwide celebration of musical theatre."
Mines says to expect a fabulous selection of songs from Rent," Les Miserables," Into the Woods," Fiddler on the Roof," Company" and many more.
There is a nice balance between songs such as Children Will Listen' from Into the Woods,' You Can Drive a Person Crazy' from Company' and Back to Before' from Ragtime.'" Mines said.
I met my best friends and my husband at Drury Lane Theatre. It's such a big part of my life," she says.
Mines loves musical theatre and has since she was a child growing up in Burlington.
I love performing and sharing with an audience. I love using my talents to make people happy. The satisfaction is giving people an entertaining evening, a time out, a good laugh, a warm memory, or a tear shed," Mines said.
All Together Now" will be performed virtually by a large and talented cast.
Despite the movement forward in vaccinations and stabilizing caseloads, we decided not to take any chances. We had to commit to providing this reopening production in as safe a way as possible. We initially considered a live performance with a live audience. We shelved that. We then looked at live streaming. The thought of a cast being close together singing for the several hours needed, with COVID still circulating in our community, just felt so uncomfortable and unsafe," Mines says.
In other circumstances with other people, this would be doable and in fact it is for the 2,000-plus groups doing All Together Now' all over the place. But, for us, emotionally, we just couldn't take risks. We are just beginning to heal."
Mines believes audiences are ready to come back inside theatres.
I think audiences are starving for escape, for the wonder and joy live in-person theatre offers. Everyone has a risk tolerance level. I am aware of the danger of COVID. But I have spent my entire 42 years as an RN being exposed to infectious diseases. It doesn't make me complacent, but it does create a trust in the science behind the protocols that have protected me throughout my career. But I know what I don't know too."
Mines says she looks to science and experts.
The misunderstandings that plague the community, the rise of the acceptance of advice from the ill-informed and the conspiracy theorists angers me personally and professionally. I say trust the people that know. And get vaccinated."
Gary Smith has written about theatre and dance for The Hamilton Spectator for 40 years. gsmith1@cogeco.ca
All Together Now
Who: Carrie Mines - Drury Lane Theatrical Productions
Where: Virtual performances
When: Nov. 12, 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Nov. 13, 14 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $25 single, $50 household and VIP Package $150 includes snacks, drinks and tickets to next live Drury Lane performance.
Call 905-637-3979 or go to drurylane.ca