Well, dear readers, last night we did to act two what we’d done to act one the night before, running it and adjusting the staging to our actual stage. We spent ninety minutes doing that and got it all straightened out. And then we ran straight through the act with my admonition that aside from line calls there would be no stopping to adjust anything and that we had to start finally getting this down toward what I want it to run. It IS a long act with a lot of information coming fast and furious, but also with a couple of moments that make Whiteside human. It’s been running slightly over an hour every time – finally, last night we managed to get through it in fifty-two minutes. There were still line calls and bits that were too slow, but we really do need to lose another ten to twelve minutes and by yiminee, we damn well will. People are getting more secure on the lines so that some nice stuff is starting to happen. The cast really felt the difference in getting this up to speed, so that was good. I likened it to a train leaving the station, gathering speed, and making no stops along the way. And then I made what is the first slight deletion in the text – I removed Sarah, the cook, reading the names of people who’ve sent presents to Whiteside. Other than Shirley Temple, no one’s going to know who any of the people are and we know Whiteside hobnobs with celebrities, so we just removed it and it plays so much better without it. It was the first time I saw the shape of the act and so we’re absolutely on the right track now. So, a very good night’s work.
Prior to that, I got eight hours of sleep, answered e-mails and did some work at the piano and computer. Then I went and picked up some packages and got some food. After that, I came home and made the Facebook event page for the Kritzerland show. And, of course, in true inept Facebook fashion, all my lists have disappeared so I can’t invite properly. Really annoying. Don’t quite know what to do about it, actually. Then I listened to music and did more work on the computer. And we had our first The Creature Wasn’t Nice DVD sighting – someone posted a photo of their DVD and it was one of the Indiegogo folks, so they’ll hopefully be to everyone soon. I’m just so anxious to hear what people think of the director’s cut and extras. It would be great to get some reviews up on Amazon, too.
Then I moseyed on over to rehearsal and the rest you know. After rehearsal, I came directly home. I had a toasted onion bagel and cream cheese and then some pistachio nuts for my evening snack. I love my new four-slot toaster – it works perfectly, and I haven’t had a toaster since moving to the new home environment. Then I relaxed and listened to more music.
Today, I can sleep until ten-thirty or eleven and then have a noon o’clock working lunch meeting somewhere in the Lake of Toluca. That should last about ninety minutes. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, come home, do whatever need be done, relax, and then we have our rehearsal. Tonight, we’ll do to act three what we did to act two last night. Because this act is actually running close to what it should, we can probably get through it three times, which would be great.
Tomorrow will be more of the same, and then tomorrow night our full company convenes, and we run the show without stops, no matter how things may or may not fall apart. And I’m being maniacal that it now runs at speed – I’m not bending on it or allowing anything other than that, because if I don’t take that hard line no one will be ready to perform this as it needs to be performed. They have to get this in their blood and bones, it’s that simple. Saturday and Sunday are both run-throughs followed by working problem areas and then, if we have time, doing a second run-through. And we go right through to Thanksgiving.
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 tango, for today is the birthday of dear reader KevinH. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader KevinH. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER KEVINH!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep till ten-thirty or eleven, have a lunch meeting, hopefully pick up packages, relax, have a rehearsal, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite fish dishes? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy we are finally starting to find the pace.