Well, dear readers, once again it is late so once again I must write these here notes in a hurry and once again we had a really fun rehearsal last night. That’s a lot of once agains, isn’t it? There were actually going be long notes, for I had a little rant to do, but I’ll save that for tomorrow night. So, let’s just talk about the rehearsal. First, we went through what we’d done the night before and while it’s not tight, everyone at least had some muscle memory and it’s going to be a very cute opening to the show. Then I began staging the act two opener, A Pox Upon the Traitor’s Brow, which has mostly everyone in it save for about six people. We were missing two guys due to them waking up and feeling under the weather and not wanting to get others sick. So, they’ll have to be worked into the number and we’re still missing one gal, who I really, really need. The beginning calls for a lot of busy people doing things, and I staged that very quickly, then we get to the number. As a stager, it is very important to understand when you can have staging and when you need to let the audience hear the lyrics. Ira Levin’s lyrics for A Pox are very fast and very clever and funny, so to put a lot of sauce on that would be foolish. So, during the wordy portions of the song, there’s not much going on – just some hand moves, small step things, but all in service of the lyrics. Anyway, when it’s together and tight I think it will play really well – simple, but fun. The cast is really fun to work with, too. The musical director is very fast and if I need an adjustment in the dance music, he does it effortlessly. And we are making a few adjustments, because we’re not doing what Joe Layton did – not that anyone would remember exactly what he did. So, occasionally we’ll add a couple of bars or remove a couple of bars, that sort of thing. So, with both the opening number and this act two opener, it’s just a question of constant drilling. Anyway, I did the same thing afterwards – stopped at In ‘N’ Out and got a cheeseburger and animal fries. I came home and unfortunately had an e-mail that really put me in the dumpster, mood-wise. Lots of stress right now, which is all I can say. Too much damn stress. Need a modern major miracle and can see none in sight. But enough of that crap. I always try to accentuate the positive, but it’s not so easy sometimes.
Prior to all that, I got over nine hours of sleep, got up, answered a LOT of e-mails, went and did a quick errand, came back, ordered a Chinese chicken salad for food, that arrived and was excellent – not quite as large as usual, which was fine by me.
After that, I did some prep work for the rehearsal, had some telephonic conversations, showered, and then it was time to mosey on over to the theater. The rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll eat, I’ll book the CAT scan, I’ll prep the evening’s rehearsal – I think we have two scenes to get done, one of which has a song – maybe the other one does, too – can’t remember. Most of the ensemble is now off until Saturday. After prepping, I’ll attend to some other things, then I’ll shave and shower and be on my way to rehearsal.
Tomorrow is a ME day, and I don’t care who the HELL knows it. I haven’t heard from the car place, so I doubt I’ll take the car in – perhaps Monday I’ll do that – and I don’t think there’s much reason to pray for a modern major miracle that’s nowhere in sight. Saturday is a big rehearsal for small number. Not sure why it’s scheduled like that, but it won’t take long to do what IS scheduled and then I might try to stage the act one ballet with our choreographer. I know the bones of what I want to do, but she can be very helpful with the staging of this one. And the dance music for it will be created by our musical director, since the Kabuki thing’s music won’t work for what I’m doing. Sunday is a ME day, and if I haven’t taken the car in, that can happen on Monday, I guess. Then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we’re back with a ton of huge scenes with lots of people. I want to get through those as quickly as possible.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, eat, book the CAT scan, prep the rehearsal, attend to things, shave and shower, and then we have our rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite burgers – what do you like on them, where have you had the best burgers, and which fast food burgers do you like? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I hope to have normal dreams with no stress or turmoil, and then once again I’ll get up and greet the day.