The case of the missing prop

There we were. September 2009, getting ready for a mid-run performance of Aladdin. I have had the pleasure of playing the bad guy in that show twice now - and it is by far one of my most favorite roles to play. As per the usual routine, we were all getting ready backstage, whether it be putting on make-up, stretching, or setting our props. Everything was done and we were all ready for another performance.

Or so we thought.

You see, at the beginning of the show, a group of gypsies decide to put on the show 'Aladdin'. When one of the actors, we'll call him Sam, said his line, "I've been reading this book...."....he realized the book wasn't there.

I could feel everyone on stage mutter an, "Oh $%#@" in their minds. Tensions were high as we needed to improv - and quickly.

I knew where the book was, suddenly: right behind our set. The crucial part for having the book on-stage is all of the actors could say (while pointing to the pages), "I can play this role, you can play that role!". Well, it was clear, no one was going to play a role until we got that darn book on stage!

I burst out of nowhere, "Hey I think I've read that too...doesn't it have a Sultan in it?" Sam replied and we carried on.

Scott, who was playing Aladdin once this mess was figured out, told the mime, Pico (played by Jordan) to go look for the book. We carried on with the improv until Pico saved our worrying minds by getting the book for us.

The best part is, no one in the audience ever knew this happened. No one!

This is one of the greatest things about theatre. You can't get this stuff in film. In film it'd be a "cut, lets do it again." But talk about a major adreniline rush.

Another reason why the thrill of live theatre can't be matched by any other form of entertainment.