So, on Sunday, the day before our tech, I finally rehearsed for the first time with Director Boy.

I had arranged for him to start with Cynthia at 7p and then I'd come home at 8.30p, since I was going to spend the day in the darkroom, but it didn't work out that way.

I got there at 12.30p and worked and worked and watched The Goodbye Girl and Little Women and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure on DVD and kept an eye on the clock, and then it was 6.30p so I thought that I should wrap it up, so I went out to the desk, and it was 7.30p! They close at 7p, but they never knocked on the door because they were installing new computers.

The weird thing is that my computer clock, which keeps perfect time at home, always loses time when I am in the darkroom. I don't understand why. Maybe it's playing DVDs that makes it lose time, or maybe they have slow electricity there, but nevertheless it was 7.30p and I hadn't rinsed or dried a single picture yet!

So I did, and rushed out (but I did stop for dinner, because I hadn't eaten since breakfast) and got home by 9.15p. Cynthia gave me the hairy eyeball as I went up, for making her rehearsal so long, and I did feel bad, but it was the clock's fault!

So, there it was, the day before tech, five days before opening, having my first rehearsal. I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted to do it, and what I really wanted from this director would be that he would leave me the hell alone and then leave.

This was not to occur.

DIRECTOR BOY
Okay, your piano will be stage right...

ME
An actual piano? You really want me to pretend to play the piano throughout this play?

DB
Well, I thought...

ME
Because I think that the piano playing isn't what the piece is about, and my pretending to play and waving my fingers around would only distract from it.

DB
You're right, scratch the piano.

ME
And have you considered my not being 70? I don't mind aging up, and I certainly will if required, but I don't think that that's what the piece is about either. I think that it's a very simple play, and burdening it with lots of makeup and grey hair would be a mistake.

DB
I'd have to ask the playwright...

ME
And if she says no, of course I'll do it, I want to make it clear that I am not refusing to age up, I just don't think that I need to.

DB
I think you're right. Okay, why don't you read through the piece?

ME
(reads through the piece)

DB
Okay, that was pretty good. I think, though, that you need to keep in mind the fact that this is a very positive, happy, strong woman. You have a very bubbly personality and a lovely laugh, and I think that we need to see that.

ME
Yeah, but since the character is dying of cancer, I don't know how appropriate that might be.

DB
Well, see if you can put it in somewhere. Now, as we go through it again, I'm going to ask you a few simple questions about where you are and what you are feeling and who the character is.

ME
Okay, but realize that I am unlikely to have any answers. I mean, I can make something up for you if you like, but I don't work that way.

DB
No, no, that's fine, we are not robots, we are not required to give answers, just if you feel like you know the answer, you can tell me, otherwise, perhaps it will come to you later. Now, who are you talking to in this monologue?

ME
The audience.

DB
Okay, but in the house that you are in, who are you talking to? The maid, perhaps?

ME
Nope, the audience. I don't want to talk to one person, this piece is very universal and it feels like I am talking to many people.

DB
Okay, that makes sense. Now, why don't you try it again?

ME
(I try it again)
You know, I tried to find the bubbliness that time through, but I really couldn't find a place for it. I just don't think that it works with the text. The dying of cancer text.

DB
That's fine, that's just fine. Now, when you talk about having to quit playing the piano, how did you feel about that?

ME
Well, since it happened when the character was 21, and even if I'm not aging up, that's quite a while ago, if I were upset at the time, I certainly wouldn't be now, especially since I ended up being much happier afterwards than I would have been. So it's all pretty moot.

DB
I think you're right!

When it was over, he said "That was a good first rehearsal," and I thought, "First rehearsal? That was final performance level, buddy, and don't you forget it!"

The next day was tech, and it went fine, though where he got the idea that this is a show about positive, strong, happy women, I don't know, because I saw a show about eight of the most miserable women that you ever will see. Either their husbands have left them or they hate their mothers or they can't have children or their husbands beat them or they are dying of cancer.

There are some good performances, I think despite of DB, not because of him, and I think it will end up being a pretty good show, but not a happy one, that's for damn sure.

Today's horoscope:
Don't let your drive to be right propel you into power struggles. Channel your urgency and determination into effective actions.

One year ago today:
"Are you in the choir here? You should be!"

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Last Updated Thurs 16 November 09:50:09 2000