Back from a completely sold out performance, and I mean completely, with five extra chairs in the back, four extra chairs in the aisle and most of the obstructed seats sold as well. In fact, for the first time since we began previews, I did not see the play, as there was no place to sit. From the lobby, it sounded like a fairly quiet audience, but it also sounded as if the actors were a bit off - going back to some bad habits (which happenes from time to time - then I give a note and we try to get it back to where it should be). That said, at intermission there was a lot of buzz, and they got a very strong hand at the end of the show. Two people came up to me and told me what a jerk they thought the Times critic is and how wrong they thought he was. That's always nice to hear. I left without saying goodbye to the cast, because I'm very frustrated with my usual actor and frankly I'm back at the point where I'd like to find someone else - he has a great show, then he has two shows where nothing works and I just don't have it in me to keep giving him the same stupid notes over and over and over again, even though when he finally manages to address them everything works. One of our producers asked me if there'll be a time in the run when I don't come to every performance - my answer is simple: As soon as I see four shows in a row that are consistent. Each actor has their own problem with consistency, but none worse with the actor who frustrates me most.
We have to decide on Monday whether we're extending beyond March 5th. My instinct is to say no - because if we do I'm not having that actor do the rest of the run - and if we extend and I can't find anyone, I'll do it because I'd just like to hear the second act the way I know it should play.
