So, we teched last night.

We had changed the order of the shows--it was originally the show I'm directing, the show I'm in, and then Bev's show, but when Philip and I went over the times, we switched the last two shows. My show was 15 minutes, and Bev's was 35, and Louise's was 50 minutes, so it only made sense to have the two shorter shows first, an intermission, and then the longy.

Unfortunately, both Bev and I way underestimated our show lengths--mine is actually 30 minutes (though it should be shorter) and Bev's is like an hour, so the actors in the show I'm in are all livid that the order was changed and we're on so late and it's so damn hot in that theatre. And who are they mad at? Me, of course!

I don't care a damn, because I'm thrilled to have a show between the one I'm directing and the one I'm in, 'cause it's hard to change gears so quickly, but whine whine whine is all I hear from my cast. "It's hot! My friends won't come if we don't get down until 10.30! I'm a delicate flower and I will turn into a pumpkin if I'm not in the bar drinking by 9p!" and blah blah blah. Suck it up.

Of course, this theatre is nightmarishly hot, and for no good reason. Four fans and two air conditioners going at all times, and it's still like one of the more sultry pits of hell, especially if one is wearing period costume with lots of skirts and hats and wigs and capes and things. And a polyester blouse from hell that doesn't breathe one bit. And it wasn't even hot outside yesterday!

Those of you who are coming to see it, a little advice--come in shorts and tank tops.

And besides the whining, how were the shows?

Full of sucky badness, thanks very much for asking!

The show I directed was a bit slow and off, and Lee actually stopped in the middle and had to check the script, which is unthinkable at a tech, but everyone understood, because of the very very loud African drumming class going on next-door.

Considering the drumming, they did very well, but the whole thing should be about ten minutes shorter if they would just speed up their damn internal rhythms, and they got much too dramatic at the end, which was very moving but so wrong for the show that I couldn't even begin to describe it.

I'll fix it all tonight.

The second show, Bev's show - that - is - not - anything - even - close - to - thirty - five - minutes - long show was terribly good. It probably had its off moments, but my friend Gregg David was so wonderfully good that he hid all flaws.

Part of it was, I have no doubt, the fact that I haven't seen it 200 times (farce doesn't stand up to repeated viewings), but also it really came together beautifully. Somebody's got to kick Rolf in the head and make him speak up a bit over the air conditioners, but other than that, it's there.

My other show, the one that I'm in, was a quagmire of unfunniness. It was just a barrel of no laughs.

Everyone was just working so very hard for the laughs, and there isn't an awful lot less funny than that. Like when Daffy and Bugs are doing their vaudeville routines, and Daffy's killing himself for the applause and gets crickets? Like that. Philip laughed some, but he's a very polite and supportive audience.

I got most of my laughs, but I feared that I was falling into the over-acting trap as well, towards the end. Maybe we won't suck tomorrow. Or maybe we'll stop sucking by Sunday.

I'll bet Anne and Tracing and Shmuel, all of whom promised to come, are really thrilled about making that promise now! Three hours of unfunny, laugh-free theatre in a sweatbox, and for only $12, you lucky things, you!

For the performers out there, what's the worst show you've ever done? For the audiences, what's the worst show you've ever seen?

We're still talking about our fathers, episode 2 of The 1900 House, moviestar crushes, if it's silly to cry over a pet, and diets.

Today's horoscope:
You can increase your effectiveness on the job by doing things a bit differently. Make small changes (not too much) for better results.

One year ago today:
I guess what goes around comes around, eh Balders?

* Yesterday / Index / This Month / Tomorrow *

E-Mail

Handy-dandy design by:
Saundra!

This page was written by hand. My hand. Only pussies use HTML editors.
Last Updated Tues 20 June 11:56:09 2000