Edmond Guay Embraces his Inner Geek as Drowsy’s Man

Edmond Guay as the Man in Chair adores his favorite musical -- The Drowsy Chaperone -- the play within the play
PHOTO:  Jan Cartwright

From boy with microphone to Man in Chair, Edmond Guay has always enjoyed entertaining people: “My parents tell me that I was born with a microphone and that I would sing and perform at any moment at any given time when I was a child, and I don't think I've ever lost that.” Edmond plays the unnamed “Man in Chair” who serves as narrator of The Drowsy Chaperone in the Farmington Players production (April 26 – May 18 at the Barn Theater). 

Edmond describes his character as follows: “He embodies so much of what makes the average geeky musical theater lover a musical theater lover. He simply enjoys the show, the music, the glamour, the escape. And I think his quirky and bizarre little character represents a little piece of all of us.”  Like his character, Edmond loves musical theater, and he believes the essence of The Drowsy Chaperone is “to enjoy the journey of escaping to another world while sitting in a theater. I have been that musical theater lover for my entire life. The final monologue from the Man in Chair really sums it all up when he says it's not a perfect show but it does what a musical is supposed to do, it takes you to another world, and leaves you with some tunes that you can remember when you're feeling a little blue.”

Edmond has loved Drowsy since he first saw it on Broadway in 2007: “The script is hysterical yet human and makes the concept of musical theater one that is very reachable for so many. It really is a musical theater lover’s dream to be a part of a show like this. The characters are incredibly entertaining, the music is fun, the choreography is inventive and well-executed. This entire show is an escapist theater dream. And it is built on the idea of what it takes to simply reach out and entertain an audience.”  

Edmond is loving his first experience at the Farmington Players: “The cast and staff have been incredibly welcoming, and have been very open to my energies and my ideas. The cast is spoiling each other because of our energy and our positiveness during rehearsals, and the staff has been very willing to let us take risks. So far it's been both a supportive and safe environment, while also challenging us to do our best.”

Edmond lives in Royal Oak with Susan, his wife of 30 years. He taught theater, speech, and English at Avondale High School and retired from teaching in 2017, after 35 years. But he recently returned to the classroom as an English teacher at a Catholic High School. His hobbies include “crossword puzzles, trivia games, roller coasters, singing in church, baseball, and spending lots of time playing with my grandson Quincy.”

The Drowsy Chaperone has 12 performances at the Farmington Players Barn Theater from April 26 – May 18.  The show is proudly sponsored by Tru-Vista Wealth Advisors.  Tickets are available online at farmingtonplayers.org or by emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or calling the Barn box office at 248-553-2955.