Virden Theatre Productions’ high calibre shows draw talented people to put their shoulders to the wheel and make it happen. An essential background piece is the wardrobe. Joyce Davies, coordinator of costuming for Virden Theatre Productions has pulled out all the stops to provide authentic period costuming for a cast of nearly 60 in the extravaganza - The Music Man.
There are many moving parts in a major production such as The Music Man. With experienced, dedicated behind-the-scenes volunteers, director/producer Michelle Chyzyk can focus on the big picture. “The volunteer hours put into a project such as this are immense,” she says. “Joyce is a perfectionist, and she takes such loving care to ensure that EVERY performer has outfits well suited to their characters and that are also flattering.”
Davies invests herself in the production she’s working on.
“You know, I love the behind-the-scenes,” says Davies. “I love watching the development of the characters…it's so wonderful to get to know all these talented people. And then to watch them grow as actors is, is my absolute favorite part.”
Costuming brings inspiration to the cast. She says, “As they start to put their costumes on… their character really comes to life.”
Davies started research on The Music Man months ago - in June. She needed to define the era, the styles of the day and get a feel for the project ahead.
“There are some keys within the script,” she says, and seasoned actors often have their own ideas of how a costume will help them feel and play their part.
Davies has assembled a small army of helpers. “I kind of oversee things and find my great crew to help me with all this. There’s about 15 people working on costumes… and we’ve needed every one of them.”
Volunteers have stepped in to iron things or rip stitches out of curtains or help keep the records.
“I write out everyone's costume under their name… and when they are to change them, and then they're all color coded as to where I got them….”
Among the costumers, Bernice Kliever, Jean Anne Overand and Laura Wright are the design creators and main sewists. Kliever is also an actor playing Mrs. Paroo and with the help of her mother, has sewn her own two dresses.
Much of the attire comes from the Costume Closet in Virden. Davies says, “It is always amazing what you can find at the Costume Closet, [things] that we don't think we have. And Bernice is very creative at just saying, ‘Well, this can work.’”
Davies loves working with her wardrobe team to meet the challenges. “The Pick-a-Little Ladies' costumes have needed extra touches. Marlene Lowe is the creator of the Pick-a-Little Ladies’ hats.”
Other costume pieces are sewn by Cheryl Sisson and Sharon Johnson, Christie and Elisabeth Archambault, Phyllis Dyck and Nicole Rougeau. Wendy Bancescu and some others are also lending helping hands.
“Jean Anne would be our lead seamstress and the creative brains behind the dresses that she's sewing. And her right-hand lady is Laura Wright - those two have teamed up.”
Overand says that she and Laura have been putting in full days sewing since the start of October and by next week, the wardrobes will be ready. Overand laughs about the intense effort, saying she’s working in her sweatshop (basement). It’s the Pick-a-Little Ladies and Marian the Librarian that they are outfitting with several costume changes – a dozen dresses.
She’s a creative seamstress who can drape a mannequin to create a one-of-a-kind pattern for these high society ladies in The Music Man. Pattern drafting is a two-day job in itself.
Material is expensive and with so much to do, the costumers are thrifty.
Davies, Kliever and Overand spent a day in Brandon combing through thrift stores. Curtains, bedspreads, duvets, sheets have all become elegant dresses. They’ve found bargain bin bolts of material too.
“We bought lace like it’s going out of style and trim and thread and all kinds of stuff.”
Overand, chair of the Aud Theatre Board, is a keener when it comes to Virden Theatre Productions. Proud of what has been staged over the years she remarks, “I've seen productions, you know, in other large centers. Oftentimes, ours are as good if not better than Rainbow Stage or even Mecca (Productions) in Brandon.”
The visual impact is one of the keys to Virden Theatre’s success. “Between Michelle and Joyce, they just both of them have an eye… they have the talent that just puts everything together.”
Overand says Chyzyk’s productions are polished. “As Joyce is so particular, and because Michelle is very particular, when you look at it, it does look polished. It looks professional, it looks finished. And for me, that's an exciting thing to be part of.”
