Fri. April 5, 2024: It’s All About the Show At This Point
image courtesy of 12019 via pixabay.comFriday, April 5, 2024
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Snowy and cold
And. . .it’s still snowing.
Heading into eclipse weekend, and into the staged reading of my play.
Today’s ANGEL HUNT episode:
Episode 126: True Love and Soulmates
Lianna and Gaston work to heal Lachlan’s poisoned wounds and debate the possibility of soulmates.
Today’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 90: Last Shows of the Week
Roq knows Nina’s secret and promises to keep it.
Tomorrow’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 91: The Late Night Visitor
The words are pretty, but it’s still a late night booty call.
Sunday’s DEADLY DRAMATICS episode:
Episode 92: Nina Researches Connections
Nina figures out connections that go far beyond this theatre, and might tie into Lily’s murder.
Monday’s DEADLY DRAMAATICS episode:
Episode 93: Nina Figures Out the Murder Weapon
An impulsive investigation brings Nina face-to-face with Lily’s murderer.
I am absolutely gutted by Christopher Durang’s death. I loved his work and learned so much from him. One of my first theatre experiences in NYC was working as an usher on the W. 43st theatre where the original production of SISTER MARY IGNATIOUS EXPLAINS IT ALL ran. Yes, that was a long time ago.
Meditation was good. Charlotte was delighted. She loves meditation on ZOOM.
Edited, revised, polished, uploaded, and scheduled next week’s LEGERDEMAIN episodes. They are a lot of fun.
Wrote the book review, sent it off, invoiced, and was paid.
Managed to push through four pages of THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE. They will need substantial revision, but they’re on paper. I considered dramatizing the scene as a flashback. If this was a film script, I’d do it. As a stage play, it would create production complications and expand the cast beyond what makes sense. So I’m trying to build the scene in beats between the two characters, as one tries to crack the other’s calm.
Printed out various sets of directions for the weekend’s trip.
Turned around two script coverages. I have enough coverages to do two per day today and next Tuesday through Friday. I’m hesitant to take on any more for next week (although, from a financial angle, I know I should) until I’m back from my trip. What I’ve got on my roster right now, I can handle; I don’t want to overdo it.
I Zoomed in on the rehearsal for the reading. The focus was on Act II, which had most of the new pages I’d sent over on Wednesday morning. The new pages work (although I’ll make a few tweaks in the next draft). The memorial scene is still not where it should be – and that is entirely on me, but we have to live with it for this draft. In a full production’s rehearsal situation, we’d get to sit and work that scene for an entire rehearsal, beat-to-beat, which would be the ideal way for me to fix it. But we’re doing a reading with only three short rehearsals, and I can’t throw new pages at them for the run through on Saturday. I hope, if I pay attention properly in the reading itself, that I’ll have some ideas of how to fix it in the next draft. Also, in the next draft, I want to layer in some more sarcastic humor on Darrin’s part. We hear about it from other characters, but the audience doesn’t get the direct experience, and that needs to be fixed. There has to be something clear to the audience why Leah fell in love with Darrin, beyond they thought their visions for a future were aligned. Otherwise, it reads as though she should have stayed with Basil, instead of it being clear that while they were in love when they were young and can build a friendship now, they are not suited as life partners.
The choice was made to run it without intermission, which concerns me somewhat. It’s written as a full-length (just under 2 hours) with intermission. We’ve pared down the stage directions (which make sense, keep it simple) and the new pages shave off about 5 minutes or so. But it’s not structured as a one act, even though there are plenty of sections where a bright pace serves it better than sinking into “dramatic moments.” But they know their audience, and I trust in those instincts.
A sound cue was substituted for a suggested cue (which would work in production, but not in the reading), and I think I’m going to keep it and add it in as a leitmotif within the script (for a different purpose than used here). The flowers in vases/on the porch show changing seasons – we’re keeping that in the read staged directions, because we all agree it’s important. But layering on this sound cue will add something for Lily (and probably seriously annoy future sound designers, but that will be the director’s problem).
We’re prepping for the Q & A, and I’m sending a bio in for the program today.
Charlotte joined part of the rehearsal, and was delighted. Because, you know, Zoom. New people. She’s shy around new people in person, but she sure loves Zoom.
I had trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep, and then overslept. Tessa was annoyed because her breakfast was 45 minutes late.
On today’s agenda: get the theatre the promised program materials; work on THE WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE; grocery run; library run; videos for next week’s serial episodes (and upload the ones for DEADLY DRAMATICS). Hopefully do a little work on LEGERDEMAIN. Turn around two coverages. Work on contest reads. Finish packing. Let the cohort manager know what I’m doing for the workshare next week (flying by the seat of my pants, most likely).
I’ve been invited to some really cool stuff tonight and tomorrow, but I’m in show head, and I won’t be able to concentrate on anything else. So I’ll skip everything.
Tomorrow is about doing stuff around the house and making sure my mom has everything she needs while I’m gone. Uploading the rest of the week’s videos. Working on WOMEN ON THE BRIDGE and LEGERDEMAIN. Packing last minute things (like snacks). I’m not sure if I’ll Zoom in on the run through or not. I’ll see if they want me there, or if some breathing room would serve them better. They thought I’d be there as of Saturday. If the theatre paid for two nights in a hotel, I’d be there; but on my own, I can only afford one. I’ll leave early on Sunday morning, to give myself plenty of time to get there. After the reading, I’m spending the night in Cooperstown, and I hope to be on the road early on Monday and not get caught in too much eclipse traffic. I’m giving myself seven hours for a 2 ½ hour trip, so, fingers crossed. I want to be home before it starts.
Good thoughts for a smooth journey appreciated.
If I get home on Monday, we’ll catch up on Tuesday. If I’m stuck somewhere, we’ll catch up when we catch up.
Have a good one!
