Well, dear readers, we finally had another run-through last night and it was really fascinating to watch. Just prior to starting, I cleaned up a couple of blocking things at the top of act one and then we began. Scene one moved like a house afire – not too many lines called for and no stopping, and you could finally see how wonderfully it plays when the energy is right. It flew by and I was totally taken by surprise by how fast we got to scene two. But scene two was way too slow – lots of line calls, and things just not snappy enough. I took copious notes. Even so, act one ran about fifty-two minutes – so we still have to shave about seven minutes off the run-time and all of that has to come from scene two.
Then we ran the second act. That, too, was too slow, but had some really good moments. Again, I took copious notes. It also ran about fifty-two minutes, but in the case of that act we have to shave twelve minutes, but when the lines are more solid and we give the first third of the act the same exact energy of the opening of act one, it should get shorter by quite a bit. Then it was on to act three. It ran smoothly and had some great stuff in it. I have a bit where Banjo gets a bowl of walnuts and cracks them after key lines and it was the first time we had them and dear Lord, Barry Pearl had a field day with it and it got howls of laughter. The stuff with the mummy case all worked well, but I’m going to slightly reblock some of that today, just minor things that will make it smoother. That act ran thirty-four minutes, six minutes longer than the night before, so we do have to tighten the top of the act and the end of it. Then I gave my copious notes and came right how, since it was late.
Prior to that, I got maybe seven hours of sleep, due to being up for ninety minutes in the very early pre-dawn hours. Once up, I did the usual morning things, spent quite some time at the piano working on a new tune, and then I went to the mail place and picked up a package, after which I went to the local pizza place and got some local pizza slices. I don’t know what was going on, but Ventura Blvd. was jammed in both directions, for what looked like miles, with no one moving. Something had to be up. I came home and ate my three slices. My Three Slices – that’s the title of my next novel. I listened to music, did some work on the computer, and then relaxed until it was time to mosey on over to the theater.
So, that was the day and that was the night and I just have to finish these here notes because I must be on my way to Ralph’s to pick up some cleaning supplies, for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon.
Today, I’ll be up by eight-thirty, and then out the door by nine. I have to stop at the bank for a moment to use the ATM, then I have to put gas in the motor car, and then we have a five-hour rehearsal. Unfortunately, we’re back upstairs so that the set can get finished, although I was told this evening that it won’t, in fact, get finished and that the designer also wants the following weekend to finish if he needs it. This, to me, is a bit infuriating – that’s tech and it’s not really fair to us to give up the theater in the daytime – and it certainly did not happen on either Dial “M” or A Carol Christmas. So, I’ve agreed to start at three rather than one, but we’re doing two run-throughs each day and I will not bend on that. I’m also interested to know exactly when I’ll be seeing the costumes, since we have an invited dress the following Tuesday evening. After we finish, I’ll eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’m relaxing, watching a couple of DGA screeners, and listening to music.
Tomorrow is the exact same schedule. Then next week we rehearse straight through to Thanksgiving – we’re off for that, and then back on Friday night for a run-through with lights and sound.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up early, stop at the ATM, put gas in the motor car, have a run-through and then clean-up, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your favorite pianists in the classical and pop worlds? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a proper run-through with no stops and to finally give detailed notes.