Midsummer is consistently one of our favorite GrooveLily albums, if we’re allowed to pick favorites–partially because we got to REALLY stretch out with the music, and play with themes and variations in a way that we don’t usually get to–and partially because the experience of MAKING the show was so sublime.
Guy in rehearsal for Midsummer, with Val in the background
One of the sublime parts was getting to meet and work with Guy Adkins, a gifted and wildly versatile actor. He’s done such a wide variety of work on stage, and playing Robin Goodfellow in Midsummer was just one new facet of his skill set coming to light.
He was so witty and kind and smart, and so full of joy. We were so glad to get to know him and to become friends with him during the three months we were on this project together. At the end of Act 1, Guy sang our song “All Shall Be Well,” and moved me to tears at many of the performances. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t get a recording of him singing it.
Guy died last week, on Wednesday, May 12. I knew it was coming–we all knew it was coming. He found out he had stage four colon cancer about 15 months ago. But he’s been so good, and so open, and so giving since he found out; he has been posting about his experiences on facebook and in a blog called “Notes from a Candyman.” His willingness to share his innermost thoughts, fears, worries, and joys these past 15 months have changed me for the better.
I know that Guy’s work in Midsummer isn’t necessarily representative of his career as a whole–but it’s the only thing we’ve ever done with him, and when we heard that he had died, we immediately put “All Shall Be Well” in the set list for our concert in Philadelphia this past week. It felt very good to sing the song again, and dedicate it to him.
Here’s that song, with a montage of T. Charles Erickson’s photos from McCarter and Paper Mill. We miss you, Guy. Thank you for everything.
3 Comments
Thank you for posting this montage and song in tribute to Guy, my little brother. Because of distance, I wasn’t able to see “Midsummer,” but Guy spoke so fondly of GrooveLily and his experience doing this show with your music. I miss him terribly, as does every person who ever spent any time with Guy. My family is so moved by the many tributes that have been posted everywhere in memory of Guy.
Thank you!
Middle Sister, Jane
I think I can speak for the Petal Pushers who were at Philly when I say we were SHOCKED when Gene mentioned Guy’s death. When I wrote my mini-review of MSND and called it ‘tear-inducing’ it was “All Shall Be Well” that I was thinking of. I only got to see MSND at PaperMill twice during its run, but Guy was absolutely a show-stopper at the end of Act I. He shall be missed – and thank you B/V/G for doing ASBW in Philly!
The world has lost a beautiful person with the passing of Guy Adkins. He was awesome in MSND at McCarter. That McCarter production of MSND was one of the best, maybe THE best, I have ever seen at McCarter, and I have subscribed to their excellent play series for nearly 20 years. I will never forget Guy’s “All Shall Be Well” at the end of Act 1. I was moved to tears of joy. At the end of the song, the theater went totally dark and then the lights came on for intermission. I floated out to the lobby, and during intermission all I could think about and talk about was the play and the fabulous music, and I couldn’t wait to get back in to see the rest of the play. I was floating around for days afterwards. All Shall Be Well is one of the most played songs on my iPod.
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