Unsung Heroes - The Stage Manager

Posted by Coral Andrews Jul 10, 2006

"All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one stage manager plays many parts..."

That's an understatement!

I have known Stratford Festival stage manager Cynthia Toushan for many years and I have always wanted to know what it would be like to watch her work behind the scenes at the Festival stage.

A few years back I was in Cyndi's dancewear store The Dressing Room picking out special shoes to wear with my 14th-century custom design wedding gown.

I told Cyndi (I've always called her that) that I was getting married in a Scottish castle in mediaeval garb (another blog!) She picked me up, whirled me around in a bear hug, and shouted in glee right across the store.

I found my groovee black leather lace-up booty flats and finally summoned the nerve to ask Cyndi about sitting behind the Festival scenes to watch her 'call' a show.

"Yeah, why the hell not?" she agreed.

A few weeks later, not fessing up to my chronic fear of heights, I found myself tottering along the walkways high above the Festival Main Stage - not exactly with catlike tread.

"Hang on to the rails, and don't look down," cautioned Cyndi who, of course, has traveled this maze hundreds of times at breakneck speed.

I was astonished when we reached Information Central - a little triangular-shaped room where the magic really happens.

Cyndi controls the pulse of the show and there lies the secret to the stage manager.

If actors are the soul of the show, the stage manager is the heart.

I am sure stage managers are the hardest working people in the business and it is a daunting, eternally fascinating, process.

Here's my defintion of a stage manager - take over the show from the its director and conduct hundreds of technical cues; exits and entrances, split-second set changes and unforeseen calamities waiting in the wings, while effortlessly creating a techno-flawless backstage note-for-note symphony in the process.

Cyndi's a born maestro, having worked on many of Stratford's main stage musicals including The Sound of Music , Fiddler on the Roof , My Fair Lady , Guys and Dolls , and 2005's Hello Dolly .

Unlike leading lad Master Twist, Cyndi has a full plate, as stage manager for Stratford Festival's 2006 production of Oliver .

AND Cyndi lives by one simple decree.

Whatever rules exist in theatre, there is always an exception.

This zany SM, now in her 11th season, is the quintessential den-mother to everyone in the company finding ways to make the actors feel as comfortable as possible during a show.

She will make sure an understudy has all necessary props in place.

She will organize birthday parties for the cast because all actors who live and breathe this crazy acting schedule often spend more time with each other than they do actual families.

Sensitive to all actors' needs, having been one once herself, in addition to choreographer, director and producer, The Divine Ms. T. will go to any lengths possible to make every show a good experience.

I experienced first-hand, the endless nuances, unbeknownst to the audience, that need the utmost attention during a performance.

That process is a show in itself!

Read on, Macduff!

During My Fair Lady , Cyndi asks the musical question...

What the hell is that on Pickering's jacket?