It's over

What a journey this show has been. The roller coaster of emotions on this one has been great. From the absurd and terrible lows to incredible highs. It has taken so much for all of us. And now it's done.

I have been doing this for a while now, but this one is unique. A group of people that would never get together outside of this experience spent three long months joined at the hip. We had our troubles, right up to the last minute. But when you go through hard times it makes the good times even better.

This show may be different for me because I usually distance myself from everything. Go to work and still have a home life. That is my usual complaint about what I do for a living, it doesn't allow me to have a life. But because this one took me out of town and had me in Calgary alone I let it become my life. These people became my family for over two months.
It is always weird when you make such hard and fast friends and then just walk away from it. But this one was especially emotional.
I feel like I say this all the time. Maybe I do. But yesterdays close was special.

At the top of yesterdays show we were standing by. Suddenly Dennis (Director of the show and Artistic Director of the theatre) walked to the stage from the audience. This surprised all of us and we didn't know what was about to happen. He spoke with a shake in his voice, first explaining that a bus full of wheelchairs just pulled up and we would wait for them to be seated, but he went on to talk about the show and just how emotional this specific show may end up being because it is closing. He was close to tears and we hadn't even begun. I was standing by with John Mann, who reached out for my hand. In those following moments I stook silently with John, hand in hand, as a number of others walked by us, silently giving a quick squeeze to our arms. Magic.

The show went on, like it does. As the curtain came down and the company proceeded to the stage for their curtain call the audience was very generous with their applause. But I don't think the cast cared. This last bow was for them and you could see it. They all came off stage with tears in their eyes. A very sad round of hugs ensued.
I felt a little weird becuase I wasn't crying perhaps because I wasn't finished working yet. John was especially struggling. He has spent 5 years on this show and sat with a towel over his head in his private moment of tears for nearly 20 minutes.
Many of the others that don't do this for a living couldn't quite get themselves together. Many were leaving right away. Another special moment came from Meegwun. He gathered everyone that was available in the door way of the green room. He was almost difficult to understand through his tears. But he said some great things and then pulled out his drum and offered us a song with a very complex and powerful translation. Then he drummed and gave a full on Native chant. It was very moving.

I have photos that I will put up soon, but for now I leave you with John Mann singing his hit for us in Chris' living room. The added bonus of many instruments filling out the sound.