Well, dear readers, as I always say – there are always two ways to approach a problem – positively and negatively. Sometimes things arise and you plum forget which road is best, until thankfully someone reminds you. And since I was in a bit of a funk I decided that was a waste of my time and energy and so I said begone funk and go be your usual sunny self and let things play out as they will. And the difference between Wednesday and yesterday was night and day, which is also a Cole Porter song. I know that because we’re doing it in our Kritzerland Cole Porter show.
So, to begin with the day of night and day, the day began with yet more telephonic calls, a visit from David Wechter, more telephonic calls, then having to complete some paperwork and take what they call a “live scan”, which is something all community colleges now make you do if you’re a guest on campus – so I had to do it, and so do the pros I brought in to do the show. Then I came back to the Valley and had a meatless Cobb salad with 1000-Island dressing and a toasted sesame bagel. Then I came home and got ready for the Kritzerland rehearsal. And that rehearsal was night and day compared to last Monday’s rehearsal. Everything that was off and rough was together and smooth and one could finally tell what a fun show it’s going to be. I was, needless to say, extremely relieved.
As soon as it was over, I headed to LACC and arrived right on time for the beginning of rehearsal. Rehearsal didn’t actually begin for about five minute, as there was a little preamble to it – I found the preamble a little off-putting but I suppose I understood it – I would have just done it in a different way. But nothing was going to turn me from my goal, which was to have a great and positive rehearsal and boy did we. Everyone was focused and there and doing great. I began with the finale, which we hadn’t done since we blocked it – it wasn’t bad and I cleaned it up and it’s really fun now. I began to get detailed with a few performances, which I love doing, especially with good actors – the pros do it automatically, but we’ve got a really wonderful cast of students and they are stepping up to the plate in wonderful ways and that is always a thrill to watch. I then moved on to the opening number. It still didn’t feel quite perfect, so I made several adjustments, especially in the opening gag, which now really works well, and then I just sat back and watched and it’s kind of really good now. I made a few further blocking adjustments, moving downstage something that was too far upstage and just picking little nits. But what was happening during the opening is that I saw people were actually starting to have fun and understand the nature of the piece. I then worked my way through Jubilation T. Cornpone, then Rag Offin’ the Bush, Barry Pearl’s long first scene, Unnecessary Town (I’ve done something very interesting with that number), and then finally ending with the ballet. I just had them run it, and by gum and by golly and buy bonds if they didn’t do it perfectly – everyone counting beats, making correct entrances and one could see it’s just going to work well – completely different from Mr. Kidd’s original and, for me, that’s fine and dandy. I also blocked the two pages that hadn’t been and everything is now at least on its feet. So, like the Kritzerland rehearsal, the difference between this rehearsal and the last was, yes, night and day.
I was so pleased that I let everyone go about twenty-five minutes early. Then I stopped at Gelson’s and got a few items, and came home to find that the toilet in bathroom two was backed up. I used the plunger but am not understanding why it was backed up after the plumber spent a lot of time fixing it eight weeks ago when it first had that problem – so he’ll be getting a call tomorrow. My voice was pretty weak by of the end of the evening, and I’ll just try to take it as easy as I can until Sunday’s show.
Today, we have our long rehearsal – we’re without Sami – she has school and then a school dance and I wouldn’t keep her from that for anything. She’s doing such a good job in the show and she just keeps getting better and better. My intention is to really work the book scenes, especially the smaller book scenes, just for the beats and the timing and adjusting blocking that isn’t quite right yet – this nitpicking stuff is really my favorite part of the process. I’m hoping to get through the show, and we will run all the big scenes and numbers, too, and in eight hours we should be able to smooth out a lot of stuff. Then I’ll probably go out for a bite with Barry and John Massey, and then I’m going to an opening night at the Greenway Court Theatre. Since that happens to be a block from Genghis Cohen, well, hmmmm.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye comes, and I’ll definitely do a jog of some sort, then we have our stumble-through at three, after which several of us will go have a fun meal somewhere. Sunday is our sound check and show and then next week I have to get something ready for release and of course it’s an all Abner week including our designer run-through on Monday. I’m actually now looking forward to that, now that we’ve been cleaning up stuff. It will still be rough, of course, but I’ll at least get a feel for the pace and how scenes need to be timed. Again, not sure how things will play out, so please do keep sending your super strength most excellent vibes and xylophones for a conclusion that makes everything okay for everyone.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Rich Man’s Frug, because today is the birthday of everybody’s favorite parodist, dear reader FJL. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to everyone’s favorite parodist, dear reader FJL. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO EVERYONE’S FAVORITE PARODIST, DEAR READER FJL!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a long rehearsal, eat, see a play and then come home and get some necessary sleep. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – I have no idea. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland happy that this day was night and day different than the day before.