Well, dear readers, the second and final performance of the staged reading of the new musical is done. I feel like a proud daddy, actually, both in terms of the show itself and the kids in my class. I’ve been in a very ranting place for various reasons, which happens when I am frustrated. But, I can’t say enough about the kids and how far they’ve come. It’s easy to pick nits, and my tendency is to treat everyone as a professional, so sometimes I forget they’re students who are learning. The reality is that ninety percent of the class had never even sung in public before, and if you saw the energy and commitment it would make you get all teary-eyed. And that’s what it’s all about, really. I’m a perfectionist and, as most of you dear readers know, I sometimes lack for patience. But, the fact that we got this thing on its feet and they learned an entire musical’s blocking (including fourteen musical numbers) is, when you think of it, astonishing, especially given the amount of time we rehearsed. There were times when I felt we weren’t supported, but this is all new terrain for me (having never taught before or been part of that kind of system), so I’m sure a lot of that was me. The fact is, the head of the department is a terrific guy and really wants this to work. And the fellow who has been the class’ overseer has been amazing from day one – always going to bat for us, always doing whatever he could to make me understand how things work and to help me in whatever way he could. I know some of the kids became frustrated with me, but I just always want the best and with limited time I sometimes take the shortest route to get it. In any case, last night’s show was very interesting. The audience had a completely different vibe to the previous night, which threw us all a little bit, until everyone settled in and just played the show. Part of that was my fault – in my opening speech I forgot to say that the show was a comedy, a spoof of bad 50s sci-fi movies – one needs to set this sort of show up, and in my senility I just forgot (I’d done it the night before). So, it took the crowd a while to understand what show we were playing. I made some cuts in a long scene, and those helped. The actor I’ve been hardest on came through much better, much more in command, and he really took the stage. At intermission, I went backstage and asked everyone to kick up the energy level a few notches – and boy, did they. The second act was great – and the audience was totally with it. The kids got really big laughs, the musical numbers scored as they had the night before, and my favorite thing was that one actor who flipped a page in his script and then lost his place, instead of freaking out, he and the other actor in the scene made it work and I was so proud of them for that – I’ve seen professionals who didn’t handle it as well as they did. As I had the night before, I introduced each cast member at the end of the show, all to very appreciative applause. And, for the second time in a row, I forgot to introduce and thank the musical director, Ross Kalling, who did a terrific job. But, the kids all corrected me loudly and it was really funny. Again, we had lots of lovely comments. My booklet designer for Kritzerland’s CDs was there, and he absolutely loved it. Even though there were times I was ready to tear out what little hair I have left, I think that ultimately this was a rewarding experience for all of us – I mean, there’s nothing like socking over a musical number, whether it’s an ensemble number or a solo, and hearing laughs and applause like the kids got. So, a big bravo to my kids, and a big bravo to the LACC Theatre Academy for bringing musical comedy back to their program.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below now that we’ve had our post-show postmortem.
I canceled class this morning so the kids could have a well-earned break. We’ll reconvene for our final class on Thursday, where the kids and I will have a postmortem on the whole experience we’ve just been through. And, if anyone wants to sing, I’m bringing in our pianist for our final class.
I, for one, will be relaxing today. Oh, I have some shipping to do, and I have some telephonic calls to make, and I have to do some arranging for a little thing I’ll be doing on Thursday night (about which more later), but I deserve a day of “me” time and today’s the day, baby.
I’m so tired I could eat a horse. Wait a minute. That can’t be right. It’s I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. So, what is the tired phrase? I’m so tired I could eat a cheese slice? A ham chunk? I’m so tired I could eat a Malomar? Do they still make Malomars? And, if so, just what in tarnation IS a Malomar? Whatever it is/was, I need one now so I can sleep.
My goodness, that was a completely useless paragraph, wasn’t it?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do nothing at all other than ship, drive about in my motor car, have telephonic conversations and sit on my couch like so much fish. Have I ever mentioned the title of our new musical or what it’s about? I don’t think I have. It’s a spoof of bad 50s sci-fi movies and we call it The Brain From Planet X. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite store-bought cookies. I know this is dangerous turf because I’m sure your loving descriptions will make me want to go out and buy a LOT of cookies, but I shall be strong, oh, yes, I shall be strong. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I now bring our postmortem to an end.