Editor’s note: This is the final story in a three-part series leading up to the Albany Civic Theater’s presentation of “Witness for the Prosecution.”

By Heather Crabtree
The Entertainer

Although by “tech week” — the week leading up to opening night — the majority of work is complete, there are still last-minute details to attend to.

Carrie Moffat added to the set in the form of paint touch-ups and gluing, while the prop master scavenged for a Union Jack to use on the Old Bailey side of the double set. One is expected to arrive Friday from England.

The costume issues that erupted during the weekend retreat — such as Chuck Skinner’s shoes being too large and what ties the men should wear — have been solved with only a few minor details left.

Director Jackie Tasker and Assistant Director John Sams mapped out curtain calls for the end of the show before rehearsal began Monday. Curtain calls, like all things, will continue to be fine-tuned right up to opening.

“Everbody’s on edge because we are all getting ready for opening,” Tasker said. “I’m the kind of director that that wants everything to be perfect, which it can’t be, so I have to keep that into consideration.

“I think the cast has done just an incredible job. Because it’s a volunteer organization, you always wonder if you’re going to have enough help. Everyone really came through.”

A light touch

In the midst of all the final touches, it is Bill Nelson’s job to start his work lighting the rotating double set.

Although he came into the beginning of tech week with some idea on how to solve some of the lighting issues, it wasn’t until Monday that he started creating the lighting queues.

The primary purpose of lighting a play is so that people can be seen. However, how they are seen is carefully controlled by the person handling the light board.

“I can bring up a light in a particular area to emphasize something,” Nelson said. “I can do it so it’s so subtle that the audience doesn’t even notice and will follow it subconsciously.”

When Nelson lit “Into the Woods,” he used a lot of color lights to accentuate the fantasy element, he said. For “Witness,” he is using natural tones for a realistic feel.

Part of that feel was creating a sunset through the office window. He placed a yellow light on the wall to shine through the window and cast sunlight on the floor. Over the course of the first act, Nelson set the queue to fade so that it looks like the passing of the sun.

As cool as the light effect looks, it was also his greatest challenge.

“Normally I’d light it from a high angle, but because of the braces, I had to hang a light on the wall,” he said.

If he hung the yellow light above, he said, the braces would have created shadows on the stage and detracted from the natural effect he was going for.

Over the past few seasons, Nelson has lit the majority of ACT’s productions, including seven of 10 shows last season.

On Wednesday, the final touches were also added to the ACT lobby. Kay Roth handles the photo display that includes a biography of each actor.

The boards are tied into the theme of the show and with the outside display cases. In the case of “Witness,” Roth used a legal theme.

Be sure to check out the biographies for more information on the cast of “Witness for the Prosecution.”

Heather Crabtree can be reached at heather.crabtree@lee.net

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for “Witness for the Prosecution,” a mystery by Agatha Christie, are on sale at Sid Stevens Jewelers in Albany and Rice’s Pharmacy in Corvallis. Any unsold tickets will be available at the box office at Albany Civic Theater, 111 First Ave. S.W., 45 minutes before each show.

Show times are 8 p.m. Feb. 16-17 and 23-24 and March 1-3 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 25.

Cast of characters

Chuck Skinner as Carter and Thomas Clegg

Caren Parmenter as Greta

Gary Prince as Leonard

John Carone as Mayhew

Russ Roberts as Sir Wilfred Robarts

Gary Burris as Det. Inspect. Hearne

Stacy Bostrum as Romaine

Calvin Ward as Mr. Myers

Ted Gray as Judge

Leslie Hogan as Janet MacKenzie

Douglas Hambley as Judge’s clerk

Jim Schweitzer as

Dr. Wyatt

Chad Robinson as Foreman

Kay Roth as Woman Juror

Dennis Glidden as Warder

Jacobs as Usher Doug

Bonnie McFee-Hall as The Girl