Ray Guyll on reeds and Kim Dare on keyboards played their first night with the Second Story Rep pit orchestra for ‘Anything Goes’. I can’t imagine the stress associated with being a sub and coming in to an ensemble with only one practice under your belt. Kim has the most to do because she plays the piano while she directs the ensemble.

Ray has a number of solos, or exposed parts to play in the parlance of the team. He has played with so many ensembles and bands, but I suspect this is the first he has played with that we have to play so quietly. Playing quietly is a real challenge for a reed as getting the reed to speak is even more challenging because the sound is based on a vibrating reed. Consider that plus moving from instrument to instrument, where you pick up the instrument and basically play it cold at a moments notice.

Suzy and I are having a blast. She said that last night’s performance was her best to date. Her timing is impeccable as with the new people, she, Liz the flutist and I had to cover any lapses. The music is made even more challenging because we are backing up singers who are relatively inconsistent and with a new conductor, well let’s just say, no one was thinking this was the best night ever.

But my daughter and her husband were in the audience and they said the music was fabulous. Josie could hear both her parents where most people would just hear the ensemble as a whole. Of course, Josie played clarinet so that makes it easier to catch our parts. I want to repeat that other than the soprano sax solo, which is way too short ;o) I am luvin’ playing the baritone sax. And I really get to let it bark during the dancing scenes where we are not trying to play under the singers. The music is rather jazzy and that is what I prefer anyway.