It’s the time of year again when I’ve found myself in a musical. This show is a little different from the others, mainly because everyone in the cast plays at least one instrument while singing, dancing and maintaining the traits of their characters — including accents, as half the characters are from Ireland and half are from Czechoslovakia. I play Da, the Irish father of the lead character, Guy, as well as a mandolin player.
The most challenging part of this role for me was playing the mandolin. I had some experience with the instrument, but as soon as I received the sheet music, I realized, perhaps not enough.
Most of us have driven cars. We’ve gotten into a new or unfamiliar car and have had to move the seat so our legs can comfortably operate the pedals, adjust all the mirrors and operate the radio and cruise control.
Although we know how to drive, the nuances of the new vehicle will take a minute to learn. For example, the new car may not use a conventional key, but a fob that slides into a space above a button that needs to be pressed at the same time as the brake pedal is held down. As logical as this seems afterward, the process of discovery is often fraught with bewildered looks and disgruntled sounds.
Now that the car is started, getting it moving is usually fairly easy. The new adjustment comes when you hit the brakes for the first time. Chances are you will press them far harder than is necessary for several stop signs until you get the feel of where the brake pads begin to add enough pressure on the rotor to slow the car down smoothly,
Then at some point, you will accidentally activate the windshield wipers when there is not a cloud in the sky. You will frantically try every lever and button you can find until the wiper fluid and the blades stop, not knowing until later that you have turned on the brights and every driver on the opposite side of the road flashes you for three nights straight until your friend points it out.
Eventually you get the car completely under control, riding down the highway with the windows open and the stereo as loud as it can go before distorting, looking at your reflection in the rearview without a care in the world.
In a general sense, this is how it feels to tackle an instrument that is similar to ones you know, but with subtleties and nuances all its own. The sound of the instrument sparks a slightly different touch, like a sports car versus a truck. Each gets you from point A to point B. Both serve a unique function. It takes a certain set of skills to master each — and it would be nice to have one of each in the garage.
