Ten Down, Eight to Go

There have still been no formal reviews of our show, and as today's matinee pushed us past the halfway point of the run, it seems unlikely that there ever will be. However, the show was briefly mentioned twice by local theatre columnists (both posting, by the way, to the same site).

Jenni Prisk, who once performed the show (as Madame Arcati, I believe) saw it first and wrote that it was a "sophisticated, nuanced production with some very good performances, and a couple not so good." Our Charles, she said, was debonair; "as the ever-suffering Ruth," I gave a subtle performance; Elvira was "played deliciously"; and our "delightful, bohemian Madame Arcati" was "not quite of this world." We must assume the "not so good" were not so mentioned.

Pat Launer, a broadcast theatre critic for KPBS and founder of Patté Productions Inc. , posted that the show "featured three fresh, young (20-something) Faces to Watch." Those three were our "gorgeous" Elvira, with the "pert, red rosebud lips... stunning, sexy, and very talented;" myself, "formidable and credible as Ruth, the put-upon second wife;" and our unseen set designer, Chris Kennedy. No others were mentioned.

While I was certainly thrilled to be included in both notices, and will consider "subtle," "formidable," "credible," and "face to watch," the marks of personal success with this role (which is not Aubrey-eligible), it is the "20-something" label that is tickling my toenails. Thank you, Pat: you've just added 10 years to my career!

Either that, or you've just erased 10 years from my resume. Hmmm....

If only she could erase two years from my waistline so easily! Looking back (again) at the two cast photos I posted earlier, I came to the startling realization that the first Blithe Spirit photo was taken only three months before my first trip to San Diego. Only three months before I was cast as Olive Madison in The Odd Couple (female version) and this photo was taken:

The lesson today, kids, is NEVER give up your cigarettes. Cough yourself skinny! Your wardrobe (and casting director) will thank you.