Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
May 31, 2015:

WELCOME TO MY WORLD – THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, it was a long but very productive day yesterday, the fifth day of rehearsals for us and a big step forward.  We began our first run at about 12:45.  While there were fumfers and some mangled lyrics, overall it was really quite smooth and Sami really began to come to life in a way she hasn’t yet.  And when that happens, the entire show energy just becomes so much fun and even magical.  Considering we’ve only had one other full run-through I’d say that’s pretty amazing.  Then we took a brief break then I gave notes – less than the previous run-through, so that’s always good.  And I added one line and bit of business that I do think will end up getting a big laugh – it just came to me while watching the run-through.  So, we drilled a few things, went over lyrics and tried the new bit, which was really funny.  Then we took a thirty-minute break and then began the second run-through.

While there were several notes that didn’t get corrected, overall it was even better than the first run and Sami’s stamina has improved and she kept her energy up for the whole show.  She’s finally realizing where she’s rushing things and that if she slows down it will not only help the storytelling but will help her energy.  One other thing that’s happened is that each time we run it she looks more comfortable on our stage – she owns it a little more each time.  None of the lyric problems got fixed, so all my notes really just harped on her going home after dinner and drilling until she absolutely had them down cold, along with just a handful of blocking things and a couple of line things.  She’ll also drill when she gets up today.  But drilling before bed is the best because then you fall asleep with it in your brain and it has a chance to settle there.  So, all in all, it was a really good day.  The show ran about eighty-five minutes each time.  We are in pretty good shape, especially when you consider that we just started last Tuesday – five days in total.  As I’ve mentioned, I’ve had to be strong occasionally, and I know that’s sometimes difficult for kids to deal with, but it’s because I never really think of the kids I work with as kids – I think of them as professionals and try to instill that work ethic in them.  Again, I’m really not aware of any other one-girl musical – not a cabaret show, but a theater piece.  Most kids interact with other cast members and obviously don’t have to be on stage all the time.  This show requires immense concentration and presence at all times.  There’s no one to turn to, no exiting the stage and having a brief respite – once the show starts, that’s it for the next eighty-five minutes.  Anyway, I’m very proud of Sami and I know she’ll just get better and better – we’re both perfectionists, which is a good thing, and when we have our three solid weeks of rehearsals, that’s when we can get all the details worked out, and I’m really looking forward to that.  But for five days – well, she’s a trouper.

After the second run and notes, we all went over to The Smoke House for a nice dinner.  Sami and her mom split a Caesar salad and a half-rack of ribs, Alby had salmon, Greer had a steak salad, and I, BK, had a cup of clam chowder, a wedge with 1000-Island dressing, and a baked potato loaded with butter.  I only ate half the latter because I was just too full.  But in the scheme of things, since that was all I’d eaten all day, it wasn’t too bad.  I’ve had that same meal before but with the big boy cut of prime rib added.  Sami and Alby split a crème brulee and I had some strawberries.  Then I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched an episode of The Honeymooners – well, I intended to watch an episode of The Honeymooners, but three minutes in I dozed off and slept through the entire thing, so I’ll have to watch again.  Then I just relaxed.  Before I go any further, has anyone noticed that this is the final day of May?  How can that be?  This month has flown by, like a gazelle watching Internet porn.  And tomorrow is June, and I do hope June will be busting out all over and it is my fervent hope and prayer that June will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.

Today, I’ll hopefully arise after a good night’s sleep, then I’ll just relax until it’s time to get ready and then I’ll mosey on over to the theater and arrive a little before four.  Once there, we’ll drill all the problem sections – movement, lyrics, and lines, for about an hour or so, then we’ll run a couple of numbers so Sami can warm up, and then we’ll all relax until show time, which is seven.  We should have around eighty people there, and there may be a few stragglers who’ll let me know this morning.  After the show, some of us will do our usual Little Toni’s celebration.

Tomorrow, I have stuff to do, but I also must rest and relax and get ready for our busy Kritzerland rehearsal week.  Tuesday is the first one, Thursday the second, then our stumble-through is on Sunday, and we should just finish it about thirty minutes before the Tony Awards airs.  We will, of course, have our usual stellar Tony Awards Bash right here at haineshisway.com, so be there or be round.  Then the Kritzerland show is on Monday night.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, relax, drill stuff, warm up, and then do our workshop presentation for our invited audience.  I will, of course, have a full report.  Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them.  So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, excited to have part two of our Welcome to My World journey (part one was, of course, our private reading of four weeks ago) and hopeful that our invited audience likes our little show.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved