So, the notes I got from Doug Haverty were interesting. First of all, it's amusing that he really doesn't like to get notes on his stuff - he only likes to hear nice things, and he rarely, if ever, makes changes to his work. I'm the opposite - I nitpick all the time. I also don't mind someone sending me notes. But his are mostly not things I would ever do. His big thing is that he doesn't feel there are stakes or even a real story, so it doesn't feel like a real play. Well, that's not what I wanted to write. The original title for the show was The Molly Monologues and that's exactly what the show is - monologues and songs, all of which tell you the thoughts of this particular fourteen-year-old girl. All his suggestions, for me, would take this into cliche land. He had a couple of thoughts that I will at least think about - one of which involves the Grandpa set-up - only a line or two but I may try it - I'm fighting a battle there by trying not to get maudlin - I think that's why people are ultimately moved by the song because the set-up is NOT maudlin. Sami and I share in common losing a favorite grandpa at an early age - the story she tells is actually my story. My fear in embellishing the set-up is that it will get gooey. Don't want that. He does have a point that there are a couple of numbers that feel like the show might be concluding. He feels the song Let Me Sing should be the final song and it originally was until I wrote another number that I felt summed up the evening better. So, I moved Let Me Sing three slots earlier - I happen to think it works there. But we'll see - I'm bringing the notes and any others I have by tomorrow night to our post mortem dinner.
