Two weeks before opening night, everything sort of fell into place. We were in good shape. A director volunteers for the job and a Gilbert and Sullivan musical is selected. May. The group rehearses only one night a week to keep the demands light, Vail says, and to help people with heavy family and job obligations remain active in the group. The group's no-budget status calls for mounds of creativity when it comes to costumes and sets.
Most women have a long skirt and a frilly blouse.
Hats are more tricky - a problem best solved by paper plates and some nifty artwork. When the script called for military uniforms, the Players scrounged up Monroe High School's old band uniforms, moved the buttons, and added some trim. When Pinafore called for an elaborate naval outfit, Vail dusted off her husband's old Navy whites and stitched on gold paper doilies for trim. She got involved with her daughter, who sang in the chorus for four years. Her son was this year's page-turner.