By Scott Dixon
If you’re lucky as an actor, which I have been, you’ll go through the cycle of opening and closing a show many times in the course of your career. As Parfumerie comes to a close, it will mark my eleventh full season at the Commonweal. I will have acted in 32 shows in that time, appeared in two others as an understudy, directed two, and written three. You might think that in all that time, there’s not much that I haven’t already done.
And yet, that’s not at all true, and as it comes time to bid adieu to Hammerschmidt’s Parfumerie, I will take along with me the memories of all the special connections that will make this production memorable for me long, long after the lights come down for the last time. 
I first acted with Irene ErkenBrack in 2005 in The Wild Duck, but despite having been in several shows with her since, we never really shared any scenes together in six years until this show. She’s a wonderful actress and brought a lot of passion and energy to every rehearsal and performance as we played two characters dancing around the love for one another in our hearts.
I’ve worked even longer with David Hennessey – since the first summer I worked here in Lanesboro. We’ve played poker buddies, partners-in-crime, and I’ve even been Bob Cratchit to his Ebeneezer Scrooge, but never have we been able to bring our off-stage friendship on stage the way we have in this production. While Sipos’ sense of humor is much drier than David’s, the sweetness of the character is 100% Hennessey and I think that Scott and David around the office is not unlike George and Sipos around the shop. Playing the friend of someone who’s your friend in real life is one of the best acting jobs around!
And finally, while I’ve spent most of my Commonweal career with David Hennessey, I’ve spent every minute of it with Adrienne Sweeney. Those 32 shows I mentioned before? I’ve been on stage with her for 17 of them, going all the way back to An Enemy of the People in 2001. But this is the first time for me to work with her as a director, and those of you who have seen Parfumerie have seen that Adrienne’s sense of precision and commitment to excellence as an actress have absolutely translated into her work as a director.
My twelfth season at Commonweal starts January 1st, and I can’t even imagine what new experiences and opportunities it will bring. In the meantime, I remain grateful for being part of a company where I can count on something new around every corner.
As a regular to the Commonweal, I am grateful to have taken in Scott’s wonderful performances! Thank you Scott!