Back from a hard day's work, most of which was spent sitting in a group and giving everyone their new sitting/standing positions. But it's so much easier now and will look just fine. We ran a lot of music so everyone's much more comfortable. We had two cast defections - one gal got a film and dropped out - unbelievable, really - and the most attitude-laden of the ensemble boys dropped out with a one-line e-mail, to which I'll be responding shortly in a rather strong way. What a jerk. However, we're fine as the show was originally designed for an ensemble of six not eight and six is what we now have. There was really good energy in the room today. And tonight, I have to have a conversation with our leading man, who, I'm afraid, is like a deer in headlights and is really not stepping up to the plate. The thing is, he's had the script and demo for almost two months now and even though I know he's been working with it, you wouldn't know it from the performance. He's just very slow, and us having all these set issues and having to redo things hasn't helped him because he's just more confused than ever. He sings well, he's got a loopy charm, and occasionally he gets it right, in terms of the acting beats. But too often it's no energy, no idea what he's saying, and NO idea where he's actually supposed to be on the stage and when.
I can't have him drag down the reading, which is what's happening. Harry sets the energy of the show from his first line, and we're not getting it, so Rosie is getting nothing to play off and her energy flags (and she's got great energy) because she's getting sucked into his hole. And then he had to leave at two to go to Santa Barbara for a wedding, which means he missed the methodical scene to scene go-through of act one, which means he's even more behind the curve than he was. Cason read his role today, and even though Cason is completely wrong for the role, we suddenly had energy, he knew what the lines meant, and everything suddenly worked really well. So, he's studying the role this evening and I'll be having a conversation with our leading man, and if either of don't feel comfortable going ahead, then Cason will do it - it's just a reading and I'd rather have the energy and the acting beats there, frankly. This is the last time I EVER do anything without getting the cast I want and need. I simply had no other choice for the lead, which is shocking in and of itself. I was promised when I took the chance that the performance would be there, but that hasn't proved to be correct.
