Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I must be at the theater by nine for our ten o’clock run-through. I will not have a moment to shilly-shally or dilly-dally because I must try and get a decent amount of sleep, unlike the night before. I didn’t get to bed until three-thirty for various reasons, I woke up at five with a bad allergy attack and didn’t back into bed until eight-thirty. I got up at two-thirty, so I probably had seven hours of sleep but it sure didn’t feel like it. This is riveting, isn’t it? It has everything – drama, suspense, and many words adding up to nothing. But one must tell the tales of the day, unless you’d rather hear the tale of The Randy Vicar and the Organ Grinder. That one’s a corker. Anyway, let’s get to the meat of the notes, shall we? Although the notes are vegetarian friendly, too. Last night we had a run-through with some lighting. The programmer got there at five and we did half the first act in an hour but then had to stop. So far, it’s all very simple but doing its job. The energy was a bit off because we like to warm up the theater but forget to turn it off. We’ll be more diligent. First act ran a swift fifty-three minutes, and we had no stops that I can remember. Second act was down to forty-five, but I believe we’ll still lose another minute or two. I’m told we’re halfway to a full house on opening night – most people wait until the last possible second, but we’re hoping it will be sold out and that the other two weekend shows will be good houses, too. I gave a few random notes after, then we ran my bete noir, the act two ballet. I think it’s now okay and maybe even funny at times. The good news is that most of the act one scene shifts were very well done. The most important thing is it’s now getting better every time we run it. We had several near-miss accidents and that I had to be very strong about, simply because I love this company and don’t want anyone to get hurt. After, I came right home. Prior to all that, I had less than two hours to myself due to the late wake up. I answered as many e-mails as I could, had no time to even think about food, then shaved and showered and moseyed on over to the theater. By the time we began the building of the cues, I was starving, so one of the actors volunteered to go across the street and get me a chicken salad sandwich – that was very sweet and very appreciated. It arrived and I wolfed the damn thing down my hungry gaping maw. The cast arrived, we did a couple of things and then it was the run-through. The set is almost finished but won’t be completely painted until Monday.
Today, I’ll arise at eight, and head over to the theater forty-five minutes later so I’m there by nine. If the lighting programmer is there, we may try to build more of act one. At ten, we do our run-through, hopefully done by noon or thereabouts. Then I’ll work problem stuff until two, then it’s an hour break and at three we can start our cue to cue – the plan is to build each cue as we go. Then young person who’s programming is very fast at it and has a good sense of the show. I’m hoping we can get everyone out by six, but it may go a bit later. The goal, however, is six because I want everyone to relax, go over their stuff, and get a good night’s sleep so that we’re ready for a much bigger day.
Tomorrow will be a much bigger day. Run-through begins at eleven. I have not heard a single peep about costumes, but hopefully they’ll be there and ready to go for that run-through – costumes, wigs, make-up, everything. Hoping we can start at eleven and come down at one, work anything we need to, have an hour lunch break, and then it’s our sitzprobe, which is always fun. Again, I’m hoping we can be out by six, but it may go a bit later. Monday we’re off, then Tuesday is an invited dress. I personally have invited a dress – a Laura Ashley original from 1988. The dress, however, turned me down so I may invite a leisure suit. What the HELL am I talking about? Wednesday is the first of two previews, Thursday is the second of two previews, and Friday night we open.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, arise at eight and be to the theater by nine, maybe build some more light cues, do a run-through, work any problem scenes, songs, or scene shifts, have a lunch break, then do a cue to cue, then come home. Today’s topic of discussion: How handy are you when it comes to assembling and/or fixing things? I’ll start – completely inept. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as we head into our big tech weekend. To use the words on the movie poster of our book and lyric writer – pray for Rosemary’s Baby.