Behind the Scenes
Some of our A Gentleman’s Guide cast members share their stories of what it was like to be part of a show that shut down with the pandemic mid-rehearsals, and resumed on the other side.
Robyn Smith (Sibella)
I auditioned back in February of 2020 and was so incredibly excited; I love this show a lot and wanted so badly to be a part of it. I was very fortunate to be cast and rehearsals were a dream, and then we all know what happened. Theatre shut down for longer than I think any of us ever would have imagined. For a while, our show soldiered on via zoom and I genuinely so looked forward to those meetings. We didn’t just rehearse via zoom, we would also have Saturday night hangouts to keep our bond as a cast going; being a huge extrovert I loved those hangouts and they really helped me get through thost initial months of the Pandemic. I think everyone can agree that the isolation took its toll on everyone in different ways. I know as someone who both works in Theatre and performs I couldn’t figure out my artistic outlet. I would sing around my house, I would watch movies and films that I never had the time to before, I even got on the Bread making train for a little while; however, I could never quite feed that hunger to perform and it affected me more greatly than I would have imagined. Now being back, I cannot describe the joy I feel being back rehearsing, playing, and connecting with others again. It feels as though it both never left and I am greeting an old friend after not seeing them for awhile. Having been with this show from the start until now, I am so thankful for having had it to look forward to during this past year. During those times when I felt really unsure about how the future might look or if I was feeling really low about not having that outlet; I would remember this show and it would bring me just a little spark of happiness that helped to carry me through. I won’t ever again take for granted the privilege of walking into a Theatre and getting to do what I love, and I know those in the arts feel the same.
Robert Stuart (D’Ysquith Family)
When my partner, Dr. Thomas Hicks, and I saw this show back in 2015, he turned to me at intermission and said, “You need to play the D’Ysquith Family one day.” I must say, the roles were alluring, and the part of D’Ysquith was quickly added to my list of favorites. Tom had been battling illness and when Theatre Tallahassee announced “Gentleman’s Guide” would be on their 2019-2020 season, I was ecstatic, but realistic. Tom’s deteriorating health would probably prevent me from auditioning. In October of 2019, days after a fourth stroke, he passed away. Life was forever altered. I vacillated on whether I should audition, but I did, and I was honored to be selected as a part of the cast. Then the pandemic hit. For months, we were on “hiatus.” In that time, I found that “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” the last show Tom and I saw together, would become crucial in my healing process. Not only was I grieving his loss, but we were also amid a pandemic. Contact with others was limited and I felt quite alone. And to top it off, in July of 2020, I retired after teaching theatre for 30 years. This production became a balm; a type of therapy for me. I jumped in to help with building props for the show. This kept me active and in “the theatre scene.” I was able to process Tom’s passing, the disconnect from society and the sudden loss of theatre from my life, by staying involved. The staff of Theatre Tallahassee was so gracious in letting me come and work in their prop loft and help wherever I could. Yes, 18 months is a long time to have a show waiting in the wings, but it saved me. This production staff, cast and crew kept me afloat. To them, I am eternally grateful. The power of theatre is immense. Welcome back! This is for you, Tom.
