Well, dear readers, we’re closer than ever to our opening night, which is Saturday. In fact, we’re closer than ever to our first audience, which is this very evening – a group of high school students. But more about that later. The notes are an hour late because we didn’t begin our run-through until nine because of technical issues having to do with the set and projections, sound issues having to do with miking the band and getting a rough mix up for the actors, and all sorts of other issues not worth going into. But let me back up. I managed to get a somewhat decent night’s sleep, got up at ten, packaged up a plethora of orders, big and small, and got them over to the postal office. I then puttered around the house, not feeling very well. And then we toddled off for a meal and a run-through. We supped at the Cheesecake Factory, where I managed to eat about a third of a Caesar Salad. We arrived at the theater at six. It was decided to make the big center unit about two feet smaller on each end, and they’d been working and gotten done one end of it. For the next couple of hours, work continued. Our band arrived, they were miked, and we got a rough mix up. By the time the floor had been cleaned up, it was close to nine, and that’s when we began our run-through. It was so great to hear the band, even if it’s short by two people – the reeds are so part of the “sound” of the score, and our player is excellent, as is the drummer. For a first time through, it was excellent. Lots of tempo things to fix, and a couple of train wrecks to deal with, but overall it was faboo. The run-through itself was pretty terrific and all my notes are really little nitpicky technical things like talk faster, move a little to the left, be stronger, etc. There were some really great things going on and I’m sure it will just keep getting stronger from here. There was a photographer there, a very nice fellow, but apparently he’s used to just walking on stage while the show is running and doing whatever he likes. I found this completely odd, and I don’t really know how the actors were able to keep their concentration. Certainly I couldn’t keep mine, and we finally asked him to stay behind the number line. First of all, he could have been hurt in one of the group numbers. After the run, I came home as fast as I could and sat on my chair like so much fish.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because we’re closer than ever to part two of these here notes and I’m tired and I have the other kind of notes to write and there are a lot of small ones, and I better get to it so that I can at least get a semblance of sleep.
Well, now we’re closer than ever to the end of the notes. What am I, Maltby and Shire all of a sudden?
Today, I have several errands to attend to, and a few packages to ship – other than that, I’ll just try to relax and not be too upset about the little bombshell that was dropped on me last night as I left rehearsal. That little bombshell has to do with our final dress tonight for an audience of high school students. I was informed by my musical director that the drummer had a gig and would not be with us, and that his other drummer also had a gig and couldn’t sub. I found it completely annoying that I wasn’t informed of this earlier, when I might actually have been able to do something about it. I have one thing I’ll try first thing this morning, but it would be a miracle if it worked out. I’m quite irked that for our final dress, when the soundman should be getting the mix for the show, that we are sans a drummer. When is the band mix supposed to happen, the night of our first preview on Thursday? That’s just a little wacko, if you ask me. So, I suppose we’ll be doing the show with a piano and a reed player and not getting a blend or mix at all. If that’s the case, I would hope there would be some assurance that the band will arrive several hours early on Thursday to let the soundman do this thing – I’m sure the show will be rough that night, sound-wise, but better than doing it on a wing and a prayer.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, package up some orders and get them shipped, do some errands that need doing, and then sup and attend our final dress rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: I’m afraid I have no time to think of a topic, so you’re on your own – someone come up with one and let’s all pull our weight and post about it. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we move closer than ever to our first audience this evening.