Buck's Acting: Winton Club Fundraiser for Winchester Hospital

What a week we had doing the Cabaret "Dial M for Music" to raise money for Winchester hospital. Judy did lots of scenery and was chair of the wine raffle. I worked on the stage crew and sang and danced in "Build Me Up Buttercup". Here is a short video clip showing some of the highlights of the show: CLICK HERE. I get to be in the opening number on the right side of the screen in my yellow hardhat. Bob and I pushed the singer out in the phone booth. The Buttercup number is on for about 2 seconds in the clip. There are 10 holes with us poking our heads out. Then the flower scenery prop was pulled off stage and we continued to sing and dance.

This production consumed the month of Jan. Sunday we struck the sets and then went to two afternoon parties. The second party was to announce the Producer for the 2008 Cabaret. Sadly one of our close friends is the new Producer! Monday morning at 8AM the phone rang and she asked Judy to be co-chair for the scenery crew. A short time latter she called again to set up a meeting next week to get started on planning! I can see our lives sinking into this effort.

	*For a Worthy Cause*

	Many of The SHS Class of 1956 volunteer their time to help with worthy causes, especially involving hospitals. We have "Pink Ladies," members of the hospital Boards, and supporters of fundraising events. Buck and Judy actively support their hometown hospital, Winchester Hospital. Once a year, in the doldrums of winter, a highlight event is the fundraiser for the hospital, called The Cabaret, one of three fund-raising activities of the Winton Club along with the hospital's Gift Shop and the Coffee Shop. Last year these activities produced over $100,000 for the hospital. Buck wrote earlier in the year: I customarily am in the stage crew, and we do a short performance at the beginning of the production. The number for the stage crew is "Build me up Buttercup" and there has been no decision as yet from the costume committee. There has been some pushback from the boys about being put in bumblebee outfits. I think we would look cute. Whatever the outcome I'm sure that Judy will take some photos of this event to embarass me at inappropriate times! He pasted this information about the show into his correspondence: Carolyn Latanision, Producer of the 2007 Winton Club Cabaret Welcome to the Winton Club Cabaret Web Site, updated for Cabaret 2007! The 2007 production of Winton Club’s annual Cabaret, “Dial M for Music,” promises a lively, entertaining evening of favorite songs, dance, and fun about telephones: those devices we complain about, depend upon, and love to talk about. Telephones: how did we ever get along without them? Fifty years ago, a long distance call was an event; now you might talk to a friend in California as you drive or shop for groceries. Watching a not-so-old movie, when the hero can’t get to a phone to call for help, we want to cry “just use your cell phone!” We use the phone to conduct business or call for help in an emergency, to order pizza or to say “I love you.” We have answering machines so we don’t miss calls—and to screen out telemarketers. And we all have telephone “stories”—from the very annoying to the absurdly funny. “Dial M for Music” highlights the wonderful and maddening use of telephones in our lives. Winchester Hospital, which makes an important contribution to our own town and to the surrounding communities, depends on telephones as well. The Cabaret Show has been a fundraising event sponsored by the Winton Club for Winchester Hospital since 1921. And for Town Night at Cabaret, there will be a special treat as the teachers of Winchester join the cast. The producer, Carolyn Latanision, a nationally recognized, award-winning artist, is an elected member of the National Watercolor Society and a Copley Master in Boston’s Copley Society of Art. She has lived in Winchester since 1975, painting scenery for previous Cabarets and serving as designer and scenery chair for six years. Now, the show has closed and Buck writes: What a week we had doing the Cabaret "Dial M for Music" to raise money for Winchester hospital. Judy did lots of scenery and was chair of the wine raffle. I worked on the stage crew and sang and danced in "Build Me Up Buttercup". Here is a short video clip showing some of the highlights of the show: CLICK HERE. I get to be in the opening number on the right side of the screen in my yellow hardhat. Bob and I pushed the singer out in the phone booth. The Buttercup number is on for about 2 seconds in the clip. There are 10 holes with us poking our heads out. Then the flower scenery prop was pulled off stage and we continued to sing and dance. This production consumed the month of Jan. Sunday we struck the sets and then went to two afternoon parties. The second party was to announce the Producer for the 2008 Cabaret. Sadly one of our close friends is the new Producer! Monday morning at 8AM the phone rang and she asked Judy to be co-chair for the scenery crew. A short time latter she called again to set up a meeting next week to get started on planning! I can see our lives sinking into this effort.
	This photo shows Bob Burke and me holding the door to the telephone booth shut while the singer Kathy D'eon does the opening number.	Judy is on stage for the raffle with the chairman of our local board of selectmen.
	Of course, a significant event like this in the life of Buck Locke inspires poetry: DIAL M FOR MUSIC Yes the telephone is this year’s theme How we stay connected to love and to scheme Has changed over the years in so many ways Most are too young to remember those days When the operator said “number please” To connect with a friend just give a name The operator would put you through just the same Making a call then was a real breeze And then “I’ll connect you now” In those days there was the party line When your phone rang so did your neighbor’s So you had to be careful all the time. How things have changed over the years To be replaced by the dial phone Eliminating the eavesdropping fears But still we were tethered to a wire zone. Then at work and home Came the answering machine To record calls from telemarketers prone To call during dinner, a wonderful screen. Ah, but the cell phone set us free Pretty much anyplace connected you can be Love them or hate them, they are everywhere With delightful ring tones to give them a flair Dial M for Music is the place To find out how phones have quickened the pace Of a musical, cabaret, life for all So for tickets just give a call. (891-729-4815) BEHIND THE SCENES There are hosts of folks behind the scenes Supporting those who are the “talent” Putting on a performance means Taking on work, time well spent. To make this a show to remember The stage crew started work in December A labor of love, people pulling together A community working to make things better The stage and scenery crew As well as the talent committee Work with the producer you see To bring the show to you And the makeup committee whose goal With the costume committee so handy, All these provide the audience eye-candy, By outfitting the talent for their role. Raising money is hard but they don’t shirk Selling ads or making programs is their work Some usher, or set up the chairs and tables, Or sell raffle tickets - buy as many as you are able. But there are many other committees And it sure is a pity That we can’t list them all Working together to make cabaret a ball A STAR-STUDDED CAST Yep, they are your neighbors having fun Your friends, local folks you meet At Book Ends, Nelson’s or any one Of our local stores or on the street. Who knew what talents they possess And we sure are blessed. They share with the community Let’s cheer them on with unity! Come and check our these hidden stars Who put in lots of rehearsal time Singing their measures, dancing their bars To put on a great show that is fine! TOWN HALL The marquee over the door Flashing lights beckons once more, You to come in for the Cabaret Dial M for Music is on the way! The stage crew busy with what they are doing Measuring and sawing, bolting and screwing As the stage extension comes to fruition Putting carpentry skills to use is their mission. In December their work began With jigs to make a production line With lots of donated time The stage comes together by plan. Great care is taken to protect the town hall Speakers taken down to carefully store, Dropcloths spread and taped to the floor Great care taken by one and by all, For the crew realizes this is “Our Town Hall” So they protect it in ways large and small. REHEARSALS This month each night The Town Hall is all aglow As rehearsals go on to ready the show Practicing for your delight Over and over, singing each measure Repeating the lyrics for the song Getting it right no matter how long For the audience a memory to treasure. The choreographer guides the drill team Through their intricate routine While the music director rehearses the Tambos So that everyone their rhythm knows. It will be the cast’s pleasure to show Their talent so you will know Your Winchester Hospital support They will be pleased to report! VOLUNTEERS The volunteers for the hospital advancing By sharing their talents for worthy ends For the sheer joy of singing and dancing Working together with neighbors and friends The month of January is given over to the Cabaret Rehearsals each night so all are on the same page, With tap dancing and singing all the way And in the daytime Tambos take the stage. Sharing their talent out of love for our town Raising funds to care for the sick and ill A cause that has been underway a long time still. Working hard to have fun without a frown! The work is done Now it is time for all to have fun So let’s have a big turnout and cheer For the cast and crew who volunteer! Audience and cast set and right It is now time for opening night!