General News
15 May, 2023
Me-ow! Cat in the Hat has to exit stage hurt
A standing ovation greeted unintentional performer Stacey Brennan at the conclusion of Saturday night's performance of the action-packed Seussical the Musical at Horsham Town Hall. The audience was intent on showing its regard for the magical...
A standing ovation greeted unintentional performer Stacey Brennan at the conclusion of Saturday night's performance of the action-packed Seussical the Musical at Horsham Town Hall.
The audience was intent on showing its regard for the magical performance - particularly for the woman who stepped into an unrehearsed singing and speaking role with just moments to prepare.
Less than a minute into the third Horsham Arts Council performance of the musical, based on the characters in Dr Seuss children's books, Kayla Wilson, who plays the Cat in the Hat, dislocated her shoulder during an opening routine.
Just 15 minutes later, Jess Wilson, in full costume, announced that Kayla was with paramedics and would not be returning to the stage that night.
She said Ms Brennan, joint executive producer of the production as well as its make-up designer, had agreed to take on the Cat's role.
Standing on a stairway platform she recited Ms Wilson's words, as well as singing all her songs with great talent and ease.
Ms Brennan used a script to read the Cat in the Hat's lines and follow the lyrics, which she knew well after watching many rehearsals.
Often the Cat's offsider, played by Rebekah Wundke, mouthed the words of the Cat as she also played her own part.
Ms Brennan, a nurse, was sitting near the back of the auditorium with director Maddi Ostapiw as the show opened but quickly rushed to the backstage area as soon as the incident occurred.
"I heard her say to cast members that she'd damaged her shoulder," Ms Brennan said.
"It was agreed I would take her part, but I didn't know what to wear and we couldn't take Kayla's clothes off as that would have been too painful for her – but we did get the tail."
In the end she wore pants belonging to vocal director Lisa Thomas, a shirt from another actor, the Cat's long tail and face make-up.
In the interval she changed into a red sequin dress belonging to Ms Ostapiw's sister.
"When I first saw Kayla she was in a great deal of pain and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance," Ms Brennan said.
Later she needed sedatives before medical staff could work on her shoulder.
Unfortunately, family and friends of Ms Wilson had travelled from the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne to see that night's performance.
Before the show, friends had held up large-letter signs spelling her name.
Kayla Wilson was back on stage for Sunday's matinee, after adjustments were made to a few stage movements, her arm in a sling.
All went well.
"We're very proud of her," Ms Brennan said.
"She did a fabulous job and we're super proud of the cast."
The production involves 80 people, with 39 cast aged 12 to 60-plus giving eight performances overall, including one specifically for schools.
Cast members are drawn from Rainbow, Warracknabeal, Murtoa, Stawell and Ararat.