Well, dear readers, it is late and she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon so I must write these here notes in a hurry with no delay, no interruption, no pause and no wait. In other words, I must write these here notes apace and with a fervor matched only by gumboots in the Ukraine. Gumboots in the Ukraine – that’s the title of my next novel.
I did sleep straight through the night for a change and got about seven hours of sleep, so that was nice. Then we had our second day of staging. I’m sure at least two of my actors think I’m a very strange director, but from day one I made a decision on how I was going to do direct this particular musical, which is about six women in group therapy. I rarely prepare much when I go into a show for the same reason I don’t prepare much when I write a book – I like to be spontaneous, I like to not be impeded by blinders, outlines, diagrams or whatever. I’d wanted to do Li’l Abner for decades, but I planned not ONE thing before I began rehearsals. I just put my actors on the stage and began and out of trial and error, moving very quickly, I found what worked, the style and how to get everyone on the same page regarding the life of Dogpatch.
With this show, even in the first two days, questions have arisen about motivation or staging or characters. These questions are thrown my way and I would say in almost every instance I’ve just sat there and not answered or spoken, or I’ve said, “I don’t know, what do you think?” And then a dialogue happens with the actors – they talk, they discuss, they throw out ideas – some people get annoyed, some laugh, some are confused – and suddenly it’s like we’re watching six women in group therapy. It’s really fun to watch that and then watch that dynamic get transferred into the scenes. Once the show is completely blocked, then I’ll start doing the detail work that I always do in terms of the overall pace, the futzing with the staging and the performances. I also find reading musicals like this and understanding everything really difficult, so when our cast presents a scene they really have to make me understand it, so I like that, too. Anyway, I’m having a really good time and I must say the opening number is quite fun, staging-wise.
After rehearsal, I went to Hugo’s and had a small Caesar salad and pasta papa, both excellent. Then I came home. I finished the song I’ve been working on, which is for the show I’m working on for Sami. The tune of the song I actually wrote for that show PennyO used to do that she wanted to be a musical but that she did nothing with. I’ve always really liked the tune and have just been waiting for the right thing so I could appropriate it, and I finally came up with a really fun lyric that will work for our show. Then I wrote another third of the Kritzerland commentary, plus we’ve been prepping all the stuff to start taking kids for our summer musical theater camp, which I’m really excited about. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night I began watching one of those dreadful Lifetime movies (I didn’t know it was one of those until I looked it up) – A Murderer Among Us (“based on an actual incident”). I don’t know what it is with Lifetime, but it would seem their mantra is to get the least talented writers, directors and actors and then film everything in Canada. With all of the talented people they could get, they end up with utter crap and they should be ashamed of themselves. But apparently they have their audience who watches this crap religiously. It’s not something I will ever understand.
Today, I’ll be up by eight-thirty. I’ll go to Jerry’s Deli and have a bagel or some poached eggs – something really light and low in calories – and I’ll continue proofing the new book. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages. I’ll finish the commentary, get Monday’s Kritzerland release prepped for announcement, and then Sami and her mom come and we’ll work on the stuff and I’ll play her the new song. Then I finally get to go have a celebration dinner. I don’t know where we’re going but I want it to be FUN.
Tomorrow, I have to judge the talent contest at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal, and then I come right home to have a work session for the Kritzerland show. Monday we’re back into rehearsals, finally with our full cast all there. Those rehearsals continue through Friday, but on Tuesday and Friday we also have Kritzerland rehearsals. Saturday I’ll go to the book fair, Sunday we have our stumble-through, and Monday is sound check and show AND an Inside Out rehearsal before both.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, proof, hopefully pick up packages, finish the commentary, prep a release, work with Sami and then celebrate, baby, celebrate. Today’s topic of discussion: Were you ever in group therapy? Or any therapy? Or did you do EST or Primal Scream or any of those faddish things? If so, tell us all about it. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall do a recitation of Gumboots in the Ukraine.