August
6, 2005
Friday
was a busy day for me. In addition to this last full day of rehearsal for the
cast, I had other preparations to make. While phasing myself out of the role
I've been covering, I was also getting ready to cover another role that may
(or may not) be open over the next few days. So I crammed on lines and blocking
moves and entrances and exits and costume changes for over an hour while the
first-string cast rehearsed onstage. Then I spent the evening in the wings watching
my subject like a hawk and taking notes. I could go on for him right now if
I had to.
We have two days off coming up, but today was another double-header and I was asked to perform the afternoon matinee. I was furious with myself afterwards. Y'see, in yesterday's mad rush to master another role, I missed a handful of subtle changes to the one I was covering today. I was really embarrassed about not being prepared, but it was nothing a little good Vietnamese food wouldn't fix. After dinner, though, I ran into Don outside the theatre, and I was sure he was gonna call me on those errors. But to my surprise he told me I did a great show, and he really liked the acting choices I'd made today. That is one key point that I keep forgetting. When it comes to productions like this one and directors like Don, it's not about the steps you take, it's about the choices you make. I got so hung up on what I did wrong I hadn't noticed what I'd done right, which was far more noticeable, and relevant.
Welcome to the world of self-conscious, neurotic, paranoid actors. What'd I do before this? Oh yeah, I was a self-conscious, neurotic, paranoid musician! It never ends, no matter what you do.
Tonight I watched the show from the back of the house. We've had over a week now to work in the new beginning and ending we came up with last Thursday, along with the other stuff, and I must say it's come a long way. The past two evening's crowds have been some of the most enthusiastic we've had in our history. Even though I've had some separation anxiety over the old bookends, which I was fond of, the effectiveness of the new treatment, now that it's come together, cannot be denied. What I find fascinating about it is that it's so simple, almost nothing, really, and yet it's very engaging. It does exactly what it needs to do. I never would've thought of it.