So THAT'S Where You've Been, Eh?

So it's been more than a month since my last post. And that's... OK. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and darn it... oh, never mind.

It's been a busy time.

The O'Conner Girls, which settled into a good, crowd-pleasing show, has opened and closed. And I got the guy. Or rather, my character did. But as I begin a newly troubled rehearsal process in which I AM the guy(s), the memory of GETTING the guy is important.


Local reviewer Robert Hitchcox had this to say about the Scripps Ranch production:

While playwright Forgette provides enlightening dialog, these five actors bring The O’Conner Girls to life, a life so convincing it becomes our reality. It is indeed exciting to see actors so together in their roles and relationships that it is no longer acting.

... Lapczynski, in her best role to date, subtly brings Martha’s internal depth to the surface in moments of enlightenment.

Before the first Friday performance of our fourth week, I took a serious spill in a bit of unprecedented San Diego rain. I'd been blessing the wet stuff all day, but when I lost my balance on a bit of mud and took a header on the concrete outside the theatre, I was less than enthusiastic about the resulting damage. I landed first on my right hand, failed to balance there -- crushing my little finger in the process -- and flew forward onto my shoulder and then my face. I performed that weekend with one hell of a shiner and little grip.

When the show closed two weeks later and I was still unable to use my right hand, I was ushered to an Urgent Care center for X-rays. Nothing broken. The doctor there injected something to numb the digit, aiming his needle at four separate nerve centers, and proceeded to "crank" the finger through its full range of motion. This proved that the joints had not frozen into position. What it did not tell me, however, was the source of the pain and injury. While I continue to keep the joint mobile, I fear that I may be continuing to damage a torn or snapped tendon. I've been referred to a Physical Therapist, but for the moment I'm leaving well enough alone.

In the meantime, I've been in constant rehearsal for another show, this one at the prestigious little 6th Avenue theatre run by Dale Morris.

When I say "constant rehearsal" I should point out that I auditioned for The O'Conner Girls and Anton in Show Business on the same weekend. The O'Conner Girls had 8 weeks of rehearsal before a 5 week run; it has opened and closed in the time that Anton has come to ... well. More than 13 weeks after the original audition, we seem to be starting from scratch -- but we are once again fully cast. If all goes well, we are now on track to get this show ready for opening night January 17.

Cross your fingers for us. I can't cross mine.