Second Week in Earnest

Tonight we begin the second week of performances, having finally opened the show that began rehearsals before Halloween. Overall our opening weekend, if not opening night itself, was a success. One review has already been published, calling my “abrasive” Mrs. B a “character we easily love to dislike.” Another review should appear on the morrow. As both critics viewed the rocky opening performance, I’ll reserve further comment until we’ve seen the second.

As the official food props mistress for this show, I’ve formed habits that remind one of the old Army slogan “we do more before 9:00 a.m. than most people do all day.” Before I’ve even brewed a pot of coffee, the oven is preheating for the batch of cookies (our “tea-cakes”) which I am dropping by the teaspoon onto a cookie sheet (I made a double batch of dough ahead of time). After I’ve put the “cakes” in the oven, I start a pot of coffee and, while it brews, I dice cucumbers and onions for the cream cheese spread that will fill our cucumber sandwiches. By the time those are daintily crust-free and cut to quarters, as is a special sandwich for an actor who doesn’t like cream cheese, the cookies are ready to place on a cooling rack. While they cool, I de-crust, flatten, butter, and roll yet more bread slices to make attractive little bread-and-butter rollups. Then I have time to chuck a little cream and Equal into my coffee cup and pour some java for my first morning sip before going on to ice the now-cool-enough cookies. A dozen dips in the quick and easy icing bath, and – voila! – the food props are finished. Meanwhile, my morning friend Rachael Ray has only made one measly little dish. Ha! Take that, sweetheart! ;)

Just kidding. We love Rachael around this house. Step off!

I’ve actually been quite the little mother hen for this show all around. We made many and major changes to the script, all of which I recorded for the tech crew who would not join us until “Hell Week.” Until then, I held the book – at the ready to supply an actor his lines should he forget them during rehearsals. Of course I supplied the food props, but I also supplied the paper props (such as Ernest’s business card), and moral support. After dress rehearsal, I was mending hems. After opening, I was the cast go-to for finding the review. Ah, my little chickadees!

After many years as a professional stage manager, it seems I have difficulty not stepping up to do what must be done. Fortunately, this time, I don’t think I stepped on any toes.

My toes, however, await the second review.