Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the first Mozart horn concerto – three more follow. I’m not a huge fan of Mozart (sorry), but these are enjoyable, so I’m enjoying them, which is enjoyable. In other breaking bombshell news, we finally had our lighting designer with us last night, as well as someone who’s helping him – a really nice high schooler who loves lighting and tech. I’m feeling much more comfortable about that. Meanwhile, the floor was painted and without measuring or taking photos where our spike marks were, all that tape was pulled up. That was bad because no one knew where things were supposed to land without them. We did some temporary ones just to get through, but today the floor painting and detailing will be finished and then we’ll just have to do it all from scratch. The run-through began poorly when one of the ensemble had a brain lapse and went to the wrong place in the opening number – like REALLY the wrong place, which screwed everyone up. Not something I understand. Even though we rehearsed every single scene shift, it was like no one had ever done them before. It’s really on them to figure it out and make sure they know exactly when and where they’re going or someone’s going to get seriously hurt. Even though the first act seemed interminable to me, it ran fifty-seven minutes and I suspect once they finally get the scene changes down it will be two minutes shorter. I still wouldn’t mind shaving two to three minutes off of act two and I’m sure that will happen. Our new actress will be very good – she’s just feeling her way, of course, but had most of the blocking down. I’ll work with her today and just get her in the right playing style – but we can all tell she’ll do a great job. It’s amazing she got through it all without us having to stop. I think lighting, costumes, and sound will make quite a bit of difference, but I want them to be ready to add those new elements so that they’re not thrown. I had to hang around for twenty minutes after we finished, then I came right home and ordered some clam chowder and a small salad to curb hunger, since I hadn’t eaten since noon.
Prior to all that, I got six hours of sleep, took the motor car to the motor car place and walked home. I heard from them a couple hours later – apparently, I have to replace both front seat belts, as whatever sensors are in them are malfunctioning, hence the warning I’ve been getting. But the cost is huge and I’m definitely checking with some other mom and pop places, because it’s going to cost over two grand, which seems pretty outrageous. $750 per seat belt and $750 labor, as they have to be programmed. Crazy. So, I said let’s hold off and I walked over and picked the car up and then filled it up with gas. Then I had In ‘N’ Out for food and for the first time it wasn’t very good. Go know. Then I shaved and showered and moseyed on over to the theater to meet with the musical director to work out the second act ballet changes. The rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll eat something reasonable, then I’m going to the theater at four-thirty to work with our new actress on her scenes and they she and the person playing her husband will run their song. I want to start the run-through no later than seven-thirty so I have time to give any general notes I may have. Then I’ll come home.
Tomorrow is another full run-through, Friday is dry tech during the day and a run with a light-over Friday night. Saturday is the first of our two longer days. We start at ten with clean-up, then do a run starting at eleven and finish that by one. Then a forty-five-minute food break – I think we’ll bring in pizza and salad. Then we do our cue to cue, do more clean-up, if necessary, and that’s that. Sunday is a full out dress/tech rehearsal with sound, a break, then the sitzprobe.
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, work with our new actress, do a run-through, give general notes, and then come home. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, so happy what soon we can say, “Let there be light.”