Sarah Talbot

The theatre season in Toowoomba is beginning to accelerate, with concerts, plays and musicals fast coming to the many local stages. 

A production of “Legally Blonde” is well into rehearsals. Vocal rehearsals are resonating throughout the theatres and studios, with soloists and onstage cast racing to get lyrics and script ‘off the book’ (memorised) and in tune. Backstage singers are learning the music and lyrics, whilst studying scores and associating what is happening onstage so they can understand areas of vocal weakness that need to be covered, and adjust accordingly. Dancers are busy learning choreography, and trying to co-ordinate vocals with movement. Blocking is well underway for both Acts 1 and 2.

The Production team are almost run off their feet in directing, rehearsing, building sets, acquiring props, sewing costumes, scheduling, conducting media relations, and setting lights and sound to script. 

The theatre literally begins to come to life… And this is only for a local production. The theatre is frequently visited by traveling troupes and acts. Singers, dramatists, dancers, visitors and locals that address audiences or conduct themselves at social, business and political events. 

And seems to get busier with each passing year.

I consider the Empire Theatre my second home, as it is an usual occurrence to find me there, if not at home or at my daytime occupation. Whenever I see the hustle and bustle, a particular song always comes to mind; “As if we never said goodbye” from “Sunset Boulevard”. The lyrics describe the busyness of the theatre, but also the feelings that I feel when walking through the hallways and backstage. 

I don’t know why I’m frightened
I know my way around here
The cardboard trees, the painted seas, the sound here
Yes, a world to rediscover
But I ‘m not in any hurry
And I need a moment

The whispered conversations in overcrowded hallways
The atmosphere as thrilling here as always
Feel the early morning madness
Feel the magic in the making
Why, everything’s as if we never said goodbye

I’ve spent so many mornings just trying to resist you
I’m trembling now, you can’t know how I’ve missed you
Missed the fairy tale adventure
In this ever spinning playground
We were young together

I’m coming out of make-up
The lights already burning
Not long until the cameras will start turning
And the early morning madness
And the magic in the making
Yes, everything’s as if we never said goodbye

I don’t want to be alone
That’s all in the past
This world’s waited long enough
I’ve come home at last!

And this time will be bigger
And brighter than we knew it
So watch me fly, we all know I can do it
Could I stop my hand from shaking?
Has there ever been a moment
With so much to live for?

The whispered conversations in overcrowded hallways
So much to say not just today but always
We’ll have early morning madness
We’ll have magic in the making
Yes, everything’s as if we never said goodbye
Yes, everything’s as if we never said goodbye
We taught the world new ways to dream!

~ “As if we never said goodbye” from “Sunset Boulevard” (Andrew Lloyd Webber)

I would sing this out loud throughout the hallways, if I didn’t know people would think I’d completely lost my mind. 

Theatre, to me; is its own world, that is hard to leave, which is why many of us keep going back to it… Our second home. 

Until next time…

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