Well, dear readers, we had us an opening night and after a particularly difficult and somewhat putrid day I’m happy to say that it went pretty splendidly. Of course, we had one final emergency – not really an emergency, but someone took the purse we’ve been using for a week now and replaced it with another purse. No one is owning up to doing it and we’ve asked pretty much everyone there is to ask. Luckily the purse worked, was the right size, and after putting a weight in the bottom, there was no danger of tipping over. But how someone could remove a key prop without asking anyone, and replace it with a bag we’ve never seen and on opening night is just as baffling as an Agatha Christie mystery. The search for who did it will continue, I assure you, especially as the purse belongs to our assistant director, who is pretty furious about it having gone missing. But before I go any further, may I just point out that it is July? Yes, it is July and it is my fervent hope and prayer that July will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
The show was oversold and we had to put up about six chairs up front, so that was nice and fun to see. I had the Shermans, the Staitmans, and the Geissmans with me. One thing I’ve insisted on is that the doors open at seven-thirty rather than seven forty-five. And that really helps us start on time – we did begin a couple minutes late because there were so many people that parking became an issue for the late arrivers. And I think one of the intermissions ran two minutes long, something I’m trying to avoid. So, instead of exactly two hours, it was two hours and four minutes.
The Shermans loved the show and were very complimentary about my direction, and Grant, his wife, and his mom all seemed to really enjoy it. The surprise was Sami – she really loved the play itself and loved the production and the cast. She knew nothing about it and her attention was fully focused on what was unfolding. Her mom loved it, too. I had lovely compliments after the show from a whole slew of people. We had a couple of critics in attendance, but you never know how that’s going to go. Hoping, of course, they liked it.
The cast all did very well – only a few fumfers here and there, very minor, and I have to say there were a lot of laughs in act three, which was great and where you need them. There were hefty mitts at the curtain call and a huge laugh when Captain Lesgate took his bow, turned, and revealed the scissors in his back. And I was rather happy that no one felt obligated to give it an obligatory standing ovation – I’m so over those. I’d always prefer genuine large applause than a phony baloney standing O. I was a very happy director.
After, they had their usual opening night backstage thing and I stayed at that for about fifteen minutes, after which I went to the Coral Café and joined the Staitmans. And I had the first proper meal in a week.
Prior to all that, I’d gotten eleven hours of sleep. Although still a bit congested and still plagued by the cough, I felt much, much better. When I was coherent, I did some work on the computer, then had a cup of soup and a bagel, then picked up no packages. And then there was a quick succession of really annoying things, one after another, all of which were both frustrating and irritating, not necessarily in that order. There was no real way to deal with any of it that late in the afternoon, so I just got in the damn shower and washed it all down the drain so I could enjoy my opening night. I also finished listening to the Russian Vaughan Williams symphonies, which were all very enjoyable.
Today, I do have to be up early for she of the Evil Eye will be here for the first time in three weeks. So, not sure what I’ll do – don’t really want to eat breakfast, but I suppose I could have a poached egg or something. Then I have to do some banking, hopefully pick up some packages, then I’m relaxing until I meet some people for dinner at six. Then I’ll see our show with those folks – not sure if we’ll go out after – we shall see.
Tomorrow I don’t know that I’ll attend the matinee – if it’s a big house I might, but if not I might just stay home, relax and attend to casting both Kritzerland and Levi. Then next week is all about Kritzerland and Levi, we’ll have a Thursday night pick-up rehearsal – I probably won’t be there, but we have someone new taking over sound for the rest of the run – she’s been shadowing all week and is ready.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, bank, hopefully pick up packages, take stuff to the cleaners, relax, sup, and see the show. Today’s topic of discussion: What’s the most exciting opening night you’ve ever attended? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a splendidly splendid opening night and happy that it is July – and reiterating that it is my fervent hope and prayer that July will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.