Over a Bushel

The second review has been seen, and the show is now out of the printed word woods. Last night, on the way to the theatre, I picked up a copy of Chula Vista's free weekly newspaper, The Star-News, and quickly skimmed the article, making sure no one had been singled out or skewered before acquiring copies for everyone. It seemed that a synopsis had been written, a comment on our changes made, and actors named only for portraying the parts which propel the plot. On closer inspection in the dressing room, however, I realized that two of us had been singled out -- myself and our Miss Prism.

To further stir up the pot there are a couple of well-meaning mother-types – Gwendolyn’s mother, Mrs. Bracknell, and Cecily’s tutor, Miss Prism – who hover over the scene convinced they are out for the good of their charges.

Kelly Lapczynski (Mrs. Bracknell) and [actor P. H.] (Miss Prism) help illuminate the production, particularly Lapczynski, whose brashness complements her New York accent. Other cast members include ....

Leave it to me to provide copies of a review that lists the leads only as "other cast members" but mentions me specifically. Brilliant.

That little bit of unintended "look at me!" aside, I certainly don't mind reading that I particularly illuminate a production.

Not at all.

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.

So Many Thoughts, So Little Time

Yes, it is the new year and the post I promised would come with it is running a little late. The problem, you see, is that I have SEVERAL ideas running through my brain and very little time to give proper attention to any one of them. I am currently in the middle (or, actually, very near the end) of what we theatre folk like to refer to as "Hell Week," the final week before a show opens and a critical audience bearing bags of half-rotten fruit is allowed to cross the threshhold. We're adding lights, sounds, costumes, props, and scenery to what we've attempted to rehearse around two or three major holidays and preparing for a preview audience tomorrow night and a paying one on Friday. Thus, my time has been well spoken for.

On top of the regular rigors of Hell Week, I've given myself the added responsibility of being our show's Food Prop Mistress. Our show is laden with cucumber sandwiches, bread and butter sandwiches, and little tea-cakes, all of which I am preparing at home in the afternoon before rehearsals. And as these are dress rehearsals, I also lose a great deal of time to the attempt to tame my mane. You can see that blogging, at the moment, is right out.

Not that I haven't had things to tell you. I have. Christmas was eventful. And the week between Christmas and New Year's was particularly rife with good story fodder, as Orrick made his first trip with me to the wilds of Tennessee to celebrate the end of the year. One day of backwoods mudding in particular comes to mind. So do a stop at the ruins of a once-loved theatre, a visit to a better-loved radio station, and a pub-crawling expedition with best-loved family.


Then there are New Year's Resolutions and my plans to write the smallest yet most well-rounded self-help book ever. There are of course stories about getting the show up and running, satisfying the differing palates and preferences of numerous cast members, and the theory that no good deed goes unpunished.

But these are all, alas, stories for another time. For now, I must curl my hair and prepare for our last run of the show without an audience.

PS: Here's a dizzying thought -- last month, I experienced December in San Diego for the first time. This month, I'm experiencing January for the third.