Long-serving member of the Ashburton Variety Theatre, Dianne Favel, with her merit award from Musical Theatre New Zealand. Photo Sue NewmanWhen it comes to musical theatre, there’s not much Dianne Favel hasn’t done – except appear on stage.

She joined the organisation in 1997 as a waitress for a theatre restaurant style show, took over the role of treasurer the following year, picked up ticketing, booking and bar duties and followed those up with a long stint as production manager and stage manager.

Along the way she did a turn as vice-president and president and finally, a couple of years ago, decided it was time to bow out and leave those jobs to someone else.

When she attended this year’s musical theatre conference in Auckland, Dianne joined in the mood of the first evening, dressing up in a gold and blue theme – blue overalls, a yellow wig and a blue hat.

The last thing she imagined happening was to be called on stage to receive an award.

“I was absolutely blown away. I thought I’d never done enough to get one of those. I cried. I was so surprised, absolutely stunned really,” she said.

And it appeared Dianne was the only one not in the know as son David and daughter Michelle were on hand to celebrate with their mother.

“The committee knew I was getting this and now I know why they tried so hard to talk me out of dressing like that,” she said.

She might have “retired from active duty” with Variety Theatre, but said she has a store of amazing memories from those years.

“I guess I really became involved because David was in shows and that sparked my interest. That interest turned to taking on the treasurer’s role and that morphed into additional jobs until she stepped up the ladder to become production manager and then stage manager.

She loved every minute of those side stage jobs, but the responsibility was pretty heavy. One wrong cue and the results could be dire, she said.

“If you don’t call it, it doesn’t happen, call it too soon and you muck everything up, but I loved it, you feel part of every show, every minute really.”

As part of the Variety Theatre crew Dianne said she’s seen some amazing productions, rating Blood Brothers as number one.

“I love the music from it. I’ve seen it four times both as a musical and a play. Les Mis, however, is the one that means a lot more to me because I did it with Robert Young and he taught me so much.”

Over the years she said she has worked with several great directors, including David Williams and Regan Jackson, but rates Young at the top.

“He was a hard taskmaster, but what he taught me stuck with me forever.”

As well as great directors, Dianne said it was a privilege to watch great home-grown local talent such as Tainui Kuru and Jane Leonard star on stage in Ashburton and then go on to make their way in the musical theatre world further afield.

She managed her last show in 2015 and last year she decided to sign off from the Variety Theatre committee.

“I had so many fun times during the shows, there was great camaraderie and I’ve made some great friendships around New Zealand through going to conferences,” she said.

“It was a big decision, but I’d got to the point where it was time to go but I’ll still support them, I just love it but it’s great now to sit in the audience and enjoy a show.”

Like all good troopers, however, Dianne has not completely retired from the theatre, she still works as an administrator for Musical Theatre New Zealand’s zone four.

Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 23 April 2019