Sixth Rehearsal

Yesterday at 12:27am
Tonight started with me sitting and pondering the concept of making the four tables more sturdy. What, you say? Why would I be doing that? Well, Ron was blocking the last 15 pages or so and I wasn't in them. The old stage carpenter/set builder reared his ugly head and started thinking of ways to make the plastic 2x4 Costco tables something the cast can move around on without the risk of sudden death. I think I finally came up with some ideas. I know, I know. This is what happens to me. It is a sickness, I think. I open my mouth about my set building skills and the next thing I know I'm not acting anymore. Just building sets. I'm trying to keep it in check. But as they say, "Idle hands ...

We did do a full run through of the show. Happy to say, with a couple of starts and stops we came in at the time we were shooting for. Still having some struggles with the same scene. The lines are so rapid-fire and so similiar that they are easy to flip around. Not an excuse, mind you. But I did tell Chioma, who is playing Claire, that if she is waiting for a specific word for her cue, she might be waiting awhile! I'll get it. I don't doubt it. But I still beat myself up too much for flubbing a scene. (It's good to know some things haven't changed after 9 years!)

Art Kent was there, the Coterie's resident lighting designer. So I'm happy he got to see a full run through. The other nice thing is that we should all be off book by tomorrow night, which means we have a solid week of simply running the show into our collective memories.

Still developing a slimier Carl. I was trying something tonight, but I don't think it played very well. Again, the next seven days will be VERY helpful in breaking that down.

I came home from rehearsal to see my kids watching the movie. We DVR'd it. (Okay. Let the comments fly about the language and subject matter that we allowed our kids exposure to. At least our 3 year old was asleep!) It was actually helpful. My biggest fear is MY Vernon being a "one-note samba." I really need to find more levels for him in his dealings with the kids. (That was one of my dissappointments from the Vernon/Carl scenes being cut.) Paul Gleason had some really fine moments in the film I think I can pilfer. It is a certain unfairness to it, though. With the film you know they had the luxury of several takes from which John Hughes and the editor could opt for. Live theatre doesn't give that level of comfort. One shot. Didn't like it? Try again next week. It is not that I'm a "Critics whore" by any means. But I can't help think that this performance is my re-introduction into the KC Theatre scene. Several local directors and producers, as well as most (hopefully) of the theatre professionals in town, are going to see this show at some point. Being on Monday nights only allows for that. Running for eternity doesn't hurt either. If for no other reason, people will see it simply because it is Ron McGee directed and Jeff Church produced. Yes, yes, the pressure is ENTIRELY self-imposed. But that is the joy I get to give myself!

So, I get to tinker with a table tomorrow (pardon the illiteration) afternoon and back at it tomorrow night. Oh yeah. We are going to be doing a promo gig at Sidekicks tomorrow night. For those of you out of the KC area, Sidekicks is a, ahem, shall we say, alternative lifestyle bar with a stage for performances---Okay, it is a gay bar that does drag shows! It should be a hoot!! The cast is singing "Don't you forget about me" in character and costume. Not busy at 9:30p? Come on down!!

Til tomorrow!!