Well, dear readers, we have survived our first preview. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, we have survived our first preview. All the prayers for Rosemary’s Baby were very helpful, so keep them coming every day. I knew it was going to be a very small house, because the info got to the half-price and papering houses too late, but still it was nice to see even fourteen people in the audience (small theaters are amazing that way – fourteen people never looks as pathetic as it sounds). There were several elderly people there, as well as some middle-aged types, and, surprisingly, some very young people. The good news is, they all paid. So, the good news is I think the play is fine. It started off the best it’s ever started off – good energy from the cast, and the audience, though small, was laughing in all the right places. In fact, the first twenty minutes of the act went extremely well – yes, some laughs were flubbed and missed, but that will all get smoothed out over the next few days. The second half of the act had some energy dropouts, but the actors are now becoming aware of when they’re doing it, and they’re starting to pick it up when it happens, which is good. The theater itself is a dead space, acoustically, so it’s doubly important that vocal energy doesn’t wane. The audience seemed to be with the play, they seemed to be with the characters, and two moments I was concerned about played very well with some very good audience reaction. There are still technical problems to work out with a couple of the end of act beats, but, overall, it was pretty good. The second act was fascinating – I was worried about different parts of it, but they seemed to be with it from the beginning to the end. And there were laughs in a few unexpected places, which was fun. And the bit that I changed yesterday, seemed to play really well. It’s radically different that what I’d written and had in my head, but it works in a whole different way, and the audience seemed to like it and was into it.
Afterwards, one of the elderly ladies came up to me and said, “I didn’t really want to come tonight, but I’m so glad I did,” which I thought was very sweet. One of the younger people also came up to me and told me how much he’d enjoyed it and that he was planning to come back and bring friends. Tonight we should have a bigger house, which will be fun.
The actors are really starting to settle in, and Tammy is really finding her way now (she’s playing a role unlike anything she’s ever done in her life). Matt is doing great (his is a very difficult role – never off the stage once, and he never stops talking, basically), and Greg is beginning to blossom and find his way, and the audience seems to like him. Of course, our set designer, lighting designer, and costume designer were nowhere to be found – something I find extremely amateurish and peculiar. I don’t think I’ll be taking this journey with any of them again, even thought they’re talented folks. My assistant was out sick, but I would have had to write my own notes anyway. Thankfully, with one small exception, there were no lighting, sound, or video screwups. So, the bottom line is that I think the play is basically working, and I think we’ve got some work ahead of us to smooth it out and get all the laughs in place, as well as clarifying some of the beats. But, all in all, not a bad first show.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got a whole other section to fill up with words and sentences and paragraphs, not necessarily in that order.
Yesterday, I had a senior moment. I hate when that happens. I was supposed to have a rehearsal with Miss Linda Purl and her arranger, Mr. Ron Abel, at Madelyn Clark Rehearsal Studios. I completely forgot to enter it onto my calendar (although I had entered a Thursday rehearsal with Miss Purl), and they called me from there but I was out briefly and missed the call. They headed back to her house, and thankfully I got them on the phone, and rushed right over there, and we worked on stuff for a couple of hours. Thursday I won’t forget. I really must write everything down, you know.
Today, I must start thinking about my Musical Theatre Workshop and laying out a plan of some sort. I must also do various and sundried errands, and then I must show up at the theater at five to work just a handful of notes (my notes were much less than they’ve been – I don’t want to inundate them with stuff – it’s better just to work it through). Keep praying for Rosemary’s Baby, baby.
I tell you, I come home from the last few days’ rehearsals and tonight’s preview and I’m exhausted – it’s funny, isn’t it, since all I do is basically sit like so much fish.
Oh, I forgot to tell you a funny story: My problem actor (who really is getting better every day) was standing with me, and we were talking to our assistant set person – she told us she’d been to Del Taco and had eaten a cheeseburger. My actor started talking about the Del Taco cheeseburgers, and it sounded exactly like he was saying lines from the play – in other words, he was describing the cheeseburger just like his character would. I pointed it out to him, and he said it’s been happening a lot – he just finds himself saying lines from the play when he’s in different situations, or he talks in the rhythm of his dialogue. We laughed for quite some time about it.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, come and go like a gazelle in West Hollywood, I must drive about in my motor car, I must pick up packages, I must even ship two packages, and so forth and so on and also so on and so forth. Or, if you’re a seamstress – sew on and sew forth. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite comfort foods – the foods that always make you feel warm and toasty? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we get ready for preview number two.