Post-Show Blues

post·show·blues

[post-shoh-blooz]noun 

1. the state of emotional fragility felt in the time following an extended run of theatrical performance.

 

"I went to the Doctor. There was nothing he could do. He said that I had it, had the post-show blues."

 

It's not unusual to feel a little down on a Monday. The weekend's over, you've not fully recovered from Saturday night and, to top it all off, it's pissing it down. But it's not for any of those reasons that I've felt slightly sullen today. You see, I have a case of the post-show blues.

Having not been on stage for a few years, I'd forgotten the feeling. The boredom, the quietness, the moping. In this case, it's only a small does of the blues - my birthday is just days away, I've another part to start preparing for and I'll be seeing my fellow cast mates before the week is out. But after a non-stop week of 'work, perform, sleep, repeat', it's difficult not to miss all the fun that you didn't have chance to appreciate. 

It's similar to that comedown you experience after a holiday, except you're absolutely knackered and therefore twice as dramatic and sensitive. I imagine it's akin to how the remains of S Club 7 feel in between half-hearted DJ sets at forgettable universities... It's the kind of feeling where opening the door to an empty fridge leaves you on the verge of tears. 

The best part of post-show blues is that, if you have it, you know you've shared something great. In show week, you live in each others pockets, make new friends and share in the applause that you've all worked so hard for. You make jokes about the script that no one else could possibly get - and those jokes stay with you! I have friends now who still bring out stories from shows we did in our mid teens. Which, cheesy as it sounds, is one of the greatest things about theatre. None of us are paid to act - we do it because we love it. And what could be better than sharing that.

Before this descends into a love in, I'd like to say thank you to every one who had anything to do with Thoroughly Modern Millie. To those who sewed costumes, designed lighting schedules or came to watch. But most of all, to the cast and production team, thank you and well done... I'm thoroughly depressed.