Saturday, December 20, 2015
A
full run-through today! I feel more ready today than I have during this whole
run. There are still little things to work out and figure out, and we’re adding
actual food into the Seder on Monday. But with producer previews coming up on
Tuesday, I’m feeling pretty good.
Both
Bryan and Todd have inadvertently discovered how very ticklish the back of my
knees are, and it’s a problem. ESPECIALLY with Todd. In the opening scene, I
have my legs draped over his lap and I was SO JUMPY today the whole time my
legs were there, because he kept starting to put his hands on the back of my
knees. I know they’d both just leave me alone if I didn’t react so hugely, but
it’s not entirely in my control.
One
difficult thing about rehearsal today—they took away our couch! One of the legs
is broken. We were in the middle of the Shabbat meal scene when some people
came in and removed the couch and replaced it with chairs. We made a few jokes
about how Sarah forgot to lock her door. We were actually each a little worried
about how it had happened. Ben A made a joke about how the kissing scene got a
little too intense, but I looked at Bryan and said I hoped it wasn’t from the
other night when we spent a few minutes falling onto the back of the couch
because it was fun. (“I like falling, but I don’t like landing,” Bryan
explained.) But apparently it’s been broken for a while. I hope we get it back
soon—it is DIFFICULT to rehearse with those chairs instead. They’re smaller,
and it’s hard to do certain blocking things.
Monday,
we introduce food to the Seder meal! We’re also playing the “dice game,” which
involves switching casts after running for as many minutes as the dice
dictates, and eventually impressions and emotions as well. I’m super excited about it.
Oh!
And I spoke with the Deseret News today about the show and my experience in it.
I was a little unsure at first, but I feel like I was able to express some
important and true things. I’m excited to read the article when it comes out.
Monday, December 21, 2015
The
dice game was SO MUCH FUN! I was so impressed with EVERYONE in the cast. Everyone rocked it. Eric pointed out the vulnerability of an exercise like
this, when we’re called upon to do stupid impressions and crazy emotions and to
transition quickly. It’s kind of beautiful to see everyone support each other
and to laugh together. I loved it. And I did make some fun discoveries. Eric
just gave us the greatest pep talk in the world after rehearsal, instead of
notes. It was such a great night. Eric and Tammy both laughed until they cried.
We all did.
In
an effort to dissuade Todd from tickling the back of my knees tonight, I bit
his hand. Twice. When that didn’t stop him, I licked his hand. He watched me do
it, then said, “Whoa. That was…awesome.” *sigh* It did not dissuade him AT ALL.
Dang it.
In
other news, I sometimes worry that my physical affection for those around me
will be misinterpreted as inappropriate. Like, maybe people think that I, as a
married woman, shouldn’t be cuddling with other people? But it’s not that I’m
making any of it sexual or even romantic. It’s just that physical touch is my
love language. And I’m not physically affectionate with EVERYONE just because
not everyone is comfortable with it. It’s not everyone ELSE’S love language.
But for those people who do speak the love language of physical touch, it’s how
we communicate—cuddles and hand holding and massages. And plus, theatre people.
Theatre people in general seem to have fewer physical boundaries. So we’re all
kind of more touchy-feely anyway. It’s just that all touch has such romantic or
sexual weight in our current society that I worry a little. But not enough to
change anything.
On
a completely different note, we’ve got producer previews tomorrow—woo hoo!
Also…I’m definitely NOT coming down with a cold (uuuggghhhhh).
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
First
producer preview down! We made Mark laugh out loud, multiple times. So that was awesome. It was a fairly solid run,
although nerves sort of got the better of us. We were a little scared, and a
little unused to having an audience there, so we were a little frenetic. Lines
weren’t quite what they usually are, and there were a few spots that didn’t go
as smoothly as they usually do. But it was still solid. The biggest note we got
is to trust the script and ground our work in reality. I think with our nerves,
we got a little lost in the shtick, and moved away from the natural-ness of it
all.
Eric
and Sally kept talking about making sure our choices are grounded in being
natural and honest. And in the back of my mind, I thought, “But…my honesty IS
kind of weird. Like, me being natural and genuine might not seem as grounded in
reality, just because the way I act isn’t quite how other people act. I’m kind
of weird.” I trust Eric to pull me back if needed.
I
feel okay about my work tonight. It was a little disconnected in places, but
generally okay. In Ben Hopkin’s class, he talks about how technique, or
“communication” makes up for where we fall short in connection. I feel like I’m
a solid enough actress technique-wise that I can carry off a show pretty well,
even if my connection is suffering a little. I know I can do BETTER, though. I
feel confident we can get it to where it needs to be. We just had to get this very
slightly clunky bit out of the way.
Speaking
of bits, we’re probably going to cut a couple of them. Mark and Sally said they
like working with Eric because he gives them lots to work with, and then they
come in and do sort of a “final edit.” So after the other cast’s producer
preview, we’ll see what changes need to be made. (One change that’s being made:
kissing Chris in the opening scene after all! I looked over at Todd after notes
and said, “Hey, we’re gonna kiss!” Bryan frowned at Todd and then said, “I get
Todd’s secondsies?” I just rolled my eyes. I actually agree with Sally that
it’s a more effective moment—to have Sarah KISSING someone on the couch, then saying,
“Oh that’ll be my date,” when the doorbell rings.)
Sally
told an awesome story that I wanted to record. So, in the script, Bob says that
he works at the Candlelight Playhouse every so often. At the end of the show,
he says he’ll be doing “Fiddler on the Roof” there. The Candlelight Playhouse
is a real theatre in Chicago, and years and years ago, Mark and Sally went to
see a show there. It was the first time they had ever seen a theatre in the
round that had a moving stage. It wasn’t terribly high-tech—it could only
rotate as far as the extension cords would reach. But at this point, Mark and
Sally were designing the new theatre, the theatre we’re currently in. So Mark
came home from the Candlelight Playhouse and said, “I think we should have a
rotating stage.” And the Hale West Valley rotating stage was born.
As
we left the theatre tonight, Bryan and I both started moon-walking to our cars (don't remember why). His car was
about 10 yards away. Mine was about 100. After about four seconds of
moon-walking, I said, “If we were really committed actors, we’d both do this
all the way to our cars.” Bryan said, “I AM a really committed actor.” I
laughed and then said, “Dang it! What have I done?!” But I freaking did it—I
moon-walked all the way to my car. I moon-walked over
a curb, over grass, down the other curb. I almost tripped once, but I made it.
My shoes were filled with slushy water afterwards, but it was totally worth it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Other
cast’s producer preview! I took a ton of notes, as always. (Ha. Always. I’ve only
been double cast twice.) I think the sweet spot is somewhere in between their
cast and ours, as far as realism and energy goes. The biggest note THEY got was
to amp up the energy and volume.
Todd and Becca were including the added stage kiss in
their run, they decided to figure it out before rehearsal officially started.
Eric and I sat and watched, creepily, so that I knew how it would go. Becca and Todd ran their
scene, then Becca and I switched out and I ran it. (Afterwards, Todd said, “Okay,
who’s next?” Bryan put his phone down—the one he’d been pretending to video-tape us with—and took my place in Todd’s arms.
I took Bryan’s phone out of his hands and captured the tender moment.)
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Today,
I thought about the fact that Beau Jest won’t last forever, and it broke my
heart a little. I have no choice but to live in the moment and just enjoy every
second of doing this show, because if I don’t, I’ll start to crumble. Maybe
that’s unhealthy? I just feel so lucky lucky lucky blessed blessed blessed.
That I get to play this part. That I get to tell this story. That I get to do
it with these people.
I
think having a day or two off from rehearsal will be helpful for us—give us a
chance to sort of “refresh” and come back to the script with new eyes.
I
can’t believe I get to do this.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
I’m
having a hard time understanding what day it is. We didn’t have rehearsal
Thursday or yesterday, but we had rehearsal today. But we don’t have rehearsal
tomorrow. We have rehearsal the next day. My brain is struggling.
Today’s
rehearsal included so many things. We started out with cast photos. (Man, I
love my wig.) Also, Ric looks like Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World in his
costume and glasses. (Realization: That actor who plays Mr. Feeney has a New
England accent. We were all trying to impersonate him, and I realized that it’s
not “slightly British,” as we first thought, it’s New England. *The More You
Know*)
I
had one terrifying moment during photos, when Bryan reminded me to take off my
FitBit, and I noticed that I wasn’t wearing my wedding ring. I mean, I wasn’t
SUPPOSED to be, and I had loosened it earlier to remind me to take it off. But
I couldn’t remember actually taking it off, or where I had put it. I felt
tearful and vaguely panicked for a moment, but told myself to just do the
photos, then look, and then I could
panic and cry if I couldn’t find it. I got back to the costume shop and
searched my makeup kit and my purse, and didn’t find it. Then I stepped into
the dressing room and there, shining on the floor, was my wedding ring. I
picked it up and ran back into the shop and did a victory lap, exclaiming (and
explaining) joyfully. I’m so glad I never had to panic and cry about it. I
think I might just not wear it to the theatre anymore. Just to be safe.
After
photos, and changing back into regular clothes (a t-shirt and my husband’s wolf
pajama pants, in my case), we did a white elephant gift exchange, where I stole
two Alien action figures, which were promptly stolen back from me. In the end, Bryan
and I struck a deal—I stole a pocketknife back for him, and he gave me the
funny t-shirt he had gotten for it. So now I have Todd’s old t-shirt, which
just says, “George is still running.” There’s actually a valid explanation for
the caption, but I like how cryptic it is without the explanation.
Then
we had the famous SPEED-THROUGH! Dueling cast-style. It was a race to see who
could get the best time. We took a break at intermission for sandwiches, and it
took me all of that break to recover my normal breath. In the end, Tammy
refused to tell us which cast won, and gave us ALL a prize (2 comp tickets to
the show for ANY NIGHT during the run). The two casts started at different
times, because of Todd being single cast, so at the end of Act One, we had
finished before the other cast. So we waited until they were done and then
pretended like we were still finishing when they came in. (I don’t think we
ever actually told them about our deception.)
The
speed-through was really helpful. Eric said that sometimes actors complain
about speed-throughs, because you never actually do a show that way. But we all
talked about how helpful it really is! It lets you know where you don’t know
your lines and cues. It heightens your focus. It helps you find places where
speed is actually better. It increases camaraderie among cast members (despite
the competition between casts). It helps you be aware of intonation patterns.
Ric shared a final thought, and he got a little bit emotional as he said it. He
said that the speed-through truly taught him what talent we have in this
production. He said he was so impressed with all of us, and feels so so lucky
to be doing this with all of us. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
For
some reason, I had it in my head that we were going to do an additional full
run after the speed-throughs, but it turns out we didn’t—we were done by 2
o’clock. I found myself lingering, chatting with Andy and Bryan and Tammy, not
wanting to leave. I feel more at home at the theatre than anywhere else
(besides home). Eventually, I did get into my car and drove off, but not
without wishing I had an excuse to stay, chatting or working. I’ve missed
everyone the last two days, and I’ll miss them again tomorrow. I suppose I’ll
get a good healthy dose of everyone this coming week—tech week is officially
begun!
The
other day, Jacob asked me if I feel ready for opening (on Thursday!!!). I
thought for a moment and replied that I feel ready acting-wise. The things I
don’t feel ready for are all tech things—quick changes and working with the wig
and being in the space. But I know those are all things we’ll work on next
week. So I feel confident I’ll be ready by the time we actually open. There are
still moments that I know could be
stronger, but I also know that they’re great where they are, and that they’ll
improve with more rehearsal time. And it will take us a few shows with an
audience for the show to sort of “settle.” Not as in “settling for what it is,”
but for it to get comfortable in its groove. I’m excited for that to happen.
Here
goes nothin’!
Monday, December 28, 2015
First
night of tech! It actually didn’t even really feel like rehearsal. We did mic
EQ’s, and then rehearsed the quick-changes. We were only there from 6 pm to
8:30 pm. It was super helpful to do quick-changes, though. Barbara (the costume
designer) is going to make a few additional adjustments to make them even
easier. The set’s in the middle of change-over, but there’s enough there for us
to get a sense of distance and timing.
I’m
excited for the set to be all loaded in, and to start REALLY rehearsing. Each
cast has got two full runs in the space before opening, and I kind of wish we
had more. Okay, not kind of, I DEFINITELY wish we had more! But I’m confident
enough in our abilities to make it work. Doing shows at the Playmill taught me
how to “fake it ‘til you make it” when it comes to having a show ready. And
Jacob is the only one I have coming to opening night, and he’ll be seeing it
again a few weeks later. All my other people are coming a few shows into the
run…we’ll have had some time to solidify everything even better.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Day
after tomorrow. That’s when we open. We have one more run. GAH!
Tonight
was pretty good—not as bad as I thought it was going to be, but not as good as
it will be tomorrow. We were just kind of “in our heads” tonight. We added so
many elements—new props, costumes, lights, sound, the set itself. Pretty darn
smooth for all that new stuff. Some line flubs and repeats. Our favorite of the
night was Bryan saying, “Did your doctor subscribe askpirin for you?” There
were also a few silly technical things during quick changes, but I think we’ll
get them figured out. I think tomorrow I might sit down and write out the details
of how we’re doing things. Not just what needs to be done, like “put on dress,”
but the specifics of how the dress is put on (who does the buckle, etc). I
think that will help.
But
there were also all these strange little things that compounded to throw us
off—at one point, Bryan and I hold hands, but our fingers were like, off by one
digit on the interlocking business, so things were just weird. Things like
that. The wine was sweeter than we expected. There were smaller spoons with the
Seder meal. The vodka glasses were fuller than usual. The bedroom and kitchen
had doors. All these little things. But still. We got through it!
Mark
said tonight that at this point, all we really need is an audience. And we’ll
have a few tomorrow night! We’re having a sort of “invited dress.” That will
actually be REALLY HELPFUL. New Year’s feels like so much pressure to get it
right, and it will be nice to have a sort of “beta audience” first.
I
don’t feel as ready as I want to feel, but I suppose there’s not much I can do
about it.
Final
thing to record: Eric is so kind as a director. His encouragement has been so helpful, and it makes it easier to believe in the greatness of our
work.
One
day closer to opening night. GAH.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
This
is it! Final dress rehearsal was tonight! And I feel so much better about the
show. Last night, I wasn’t quite sure if we’d really be ready. But after
tonight, I feel pretty good. It was a pretty smooth run—we were all focused and
listening and present. Any little flubs
(because we still had a few) were covered easily and quickly. It was also
helpful to have a little bit of an audience there. Starting to get some of that
laughter and energy from them really brought things to life.
Mark compliments my wig every time I see him, as well I should. He also told
me to try my mic pack on my thigh to avoid the “bustle” look of it being around
my waist, and I'm a little nervous about that--I've never had it work very well.
And
I’m glad our run was good—I was so GRUMPY beforehand! A prayer before our run helped. And I feel pretty good!
So
this is it. Opening night. I’m ready.
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