Well, dear readers, we had our first preview last night and things were smoother than the dress rehearsal, the pacing was very good, and the characters are jelling nicely now. There were about thirty people there, maybe thirty-five, and while the laughs weren’t quite as solid as some of them at the dress, I think everyone enjoyed it. Still some things to fix before tonight’s second preview – some lighting cues to run in terms of timing, the opening number, which somehow seems to have moved to the right and therefore has no center – easy fix – the first act ballet just to get some light cue timings sharper, some costumes that need finishing and one quick change that actually can’t get done without a huge stage wait and we can’t have that. So, we’ll solve that the way we solved another quick change – by taking the person out of the number that happens before it about halfway through. She exits the stage anyway and instead of coming back on she’ll just go do her change and therefore will be ready to come on stage for the next scene. The timing on some of the comedy was a bit off, but that will get sharper the more times we do it and when everyone starts really telling the audience where to laugh. But I’ll tell you what the show has – heart and a good old-fashioned score and it’s fun – and best of all, it moves VERY quickly. Even with the few things we still have to fix, the show looks very good and is in pretty good shape. In other news, we were informed that opening night is now sold out. It’s funny to think back to the first preview of 70, Girls, 70, when I said to Doug that he could not open the show – and if he had to open it, I wanted my name taken off it. Thank goodness, we’re not there with this show. The band played much better last night, although we still have to fix a few things. I added music to the curtain call and that’s working great now. All in all, I was pretty pleased. I only gave a few notes, then came right home. Prior to all that, I got six hours of sleep – maybe – then just relaxed, had a great pastrami sandwich from Daughter’s Deli (Langer’s daughter) – lean, melt in your mouth pastrami, coleslaw, 1000-Island dressing and double baked rye bread. A perfect sandwich. Then I showered and moseyed on over to the theater at five-thirty. We ran a few things, but not too much.
Today, I’ll be up by ten-thirty, Donald Feltham is dropping by briefly at eleven, then I’ll continue writing opening night notes to cast and crew, then I’ll mosey on over to the theater and we’ll run the problem stuff, then we’ll play our second preview, I’ll give whatever notes I have and then come home.
Tomorrow is opening night and I pray it goes well. There’s an after-party that should be fun. I’ll try to get some photos to post here. Then we have our Saturday night show, and our Sunday matinee and talkback. Then on Monday morning, I see the eye doctor and hopefully get the surgeon recommendation or whatever they call it where it has to be approved – once that happens, I make the appointment.
Quick, 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 and the Hustle, for today is the birthday of dear reader Rodzinski. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader Rodzinski. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER RODZINSKI!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten-thirty, have a brief visit, write opening night notes, shave and shower, mosey on over to the theater, run some problem stuff, and do the second preview. Today’s topic of discussion: Favorite soups – what are they, where did you have the best soups, and what soups do you like to make yourself. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy the first preview went pretty well.