April 4 , 2005
California, it is said, doesn't get much rain. But wouldn't you know it, it decides to pour on the only day off we're going to have for the next 15 days. So much for the barbecue we'd planned in the small courtyard of the Steinhart. But I did manage to get in a massage and buy a few groceries at Trader Joe's, an organic shopper's paradise which Nicole took me to. It was actually a cool thing to do...until we checked out. Now, as New Yorkers, we're used to taxis coming around like tree roaches in Texas; they're everywhere. In San Francisco it's not much different, except when it's pouring rain, then yer on yer own. We waited an hour and made several phone calls in vain before one showed up. Every ten minutes or so I'd run back to the freezer section and swap out the melting soy ice cream. Once I got back some of us salvaged the evening by hanging out at Julia's place for a while and having a few laughs. There was no pie, but the cookies were happenin'!
Today Don gathered us around the usual pre-work bonding circle and told us that he'd heard from Yoko. It was all good news. Apparently she was overflowing with praise for the show and had never imagined it would be so good. It made Don's day and it made us all more confident. The proceeding tech rehearsal was more of the same, but this time they actually finished the first act and were able to run it all the way through from the top. Just before the runthrough, however, I was put on the spot. Someone onstage (I think it was Chad) blabbed to the house that I did impressions of Don and Artie, which I had done last night at Julia's. He wasn't ratting on me, y'know, it was more like touting me, I guess; nevertheless, I was busted, and I had to deliver. I admit, I do a dead scary impression of Artie and my Don's not bad, but now I found myself taking requests, imitating Michael, Chuck, Chad, Terrence, and Jeff the conductor on demand. In front of them! Talk about a hotseat! I got bellylaughs, though, I'm proud to say, and I dedicate tonight's improv performance to the late Mitch Hedberg, one of the best standup comics of all time, who passed away last week.
After the runthrough, Don told us he was really happy with the results and said that he had opened shows that were in the shape ours is in now, so naturally he was quite pleased that we're right where we're supposed to be. The first act is fast-moving and heavy on production numbers and costume changes, so it's a huge chunk of work out of the way. Next we'll begin sewing together the second act, which is a bit shorter in running time and not as elaborate, with more emphasis on storytelling and emotional impact.
I also have to get busy. They're expecting me to have impressions of Will, Lon and Joe prepared for tomorrow!