By Marissa Rapier
“… my sister, Henrietta, and I will lead you through our village so that you might make up your HEADS for yourselves.”
That is one of several lines my character, Lavinia, recites as a guide for A NIGHT IN SLEEPY HOLLOW. Let me just say that being a character in this production is not for the faint of heart or weak of feet.
My journey to Sleepy Hollow began after I interviewed for a job at the Kankakee Public Library. Allison Beasley, assistant director, mentioned knowing my son Spenser through his participation in past years’ Sleepy Hollow. I inquired how one might be involved. That is all it took. That exchange led to being asked to be a guide a couple months later.
Previously, I’d only attended. Each year it has evolved into a bigger and better production. More surprises! Lively characters abound! I thought the guides had the easiest role because they simply greeted patrons at the fence-line; the groups moved through Perry Farm and met up with other guides. Accepting such a role was a no-brainer! WRONG! I’m ashamed to admit that I’d erred enormously. My error was not in accepting the part, but in my assumption that it was easy. These people are the hardest working folks in community theatre! Every single person from Verity the censor taker at the front gate to the frightening characters in the Hollow give their all to bring life to the age old tale of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane. The crew that lurks in the shadows work non-stop!
Unlike the other theatre productions I have been involved with where there are weeks of nightly rehearsals, we (the guides) met three times prior to the week of tech rehearsals. There were a total of three evenings of run throughs. I didn’t know my ‘sister’ Henrietta, played by Constance Beatty, prior to our first read through. We quickly mind melded to realize if 1790 had a version of Lucy and Ethel, we would be them.
Initially, the notion of learning all the lines had my not so spongy brain in a dither. I could not absorb the words on the page! That seemed the greatest challenge. HA! Wrong again! The necessity to ad-lib while taking the groups from place to place had my head spinning. Alas, we had masterful coaches in Allison Beasley and Bill Yohnka (Bess and William – guides). They make it all look so easy, but with their non-stop encouragement they made me believe in myself.
That brings us to opening night. A brisk, rainy opening night. The weather did not dampen our determination to give the best performances to ticket holders. I had a touch of the jitters especially when I spotted a familiar face in the first group of the night. The first chortle from our audience reassured me that all would be well. It was our first of three groups. There are three sets of two guides bringing guests through Tarrytown.
**side-note: THREE seems to be of some importance. Perhaps it is the works of something mystical. Maybe … WITCHCRAFT?!?!
Half way through opening night it dawned on me how much I needed some of those supportive yet jelly like insoles in my boots. Each run is nearly an hour and we traipse about on foot. No sitting. We briefly ride on a wagon before we have to set out on foot again. Like I said, this gig isn’t for the faint of heart nor weak of feet. My lower back was screaming for relief! When our final run ended it seemed I might not manage the walk from the farmhouse to my car!! A Night in Sleepy Hollow is back breaking work. The only thing I could think about after shedding my costume was going home, popping Advil, and making nice with a heating pad. Another rookie mistake is not hydrating. When trying to get comfortable in bed I was stricken with CHARLIE HORSE!! Front and back of my entire right leg. Water is important, my friends, even on cold, drizzly nights.
What all of this babbling means is that I have now developed a greater sense of awe, appreciation, and respect for each and every person involved in this reenactment year after year. Despite the aches and pains I feel right now, it is all worth it because the last guest of the evening said to me as he disembarked the wagon, “Bravissimo! Wonderful! You were all great! Thank you!” That kind of support will never come from a cushy pair of insoles!
