This will be quick as I haven’t much time.
MBFITWW wound up texting me before the show that he was ill and could not attend. So, that means that this is another show with no family or friends specifically coming to see it. It’s fine. This is my 13th show in 8 years… my 12th in 6 years (COVID delays)… it makes sense that people wouldn’t make a big deal to keep coming out. Just shows (ultimately) that I don’t do it for recognition or acclaim (because I don’t). I stay so connected to theater because I love what I do. I’ve made reference before that if you think actors are just ego driven menaces; Community Theater purifies it. If you become an actor because you want money or accolades; Community Theater will repulse you. And, as I’ve also said, if you don’t think we’d play to an empty house- you’re wrong! We’ll put this show on every night we’re scheduled whether there are 12 people or 400 because we love it. Of course, it is good news that Opening Weekend has already sold so well… the audience IS an element as their laughter, gasps, and energy become a very real part of Live Theater! But I’m also incredibly glad our Closing weekend hasn’t sold well yet. Opening Selling well is “Did you hear the director is a famous actor? Someone beloved by the local community?!” Which is fine, we’ll take whatever kind of crowd we can get. But if the Opening Weekend Crowds love it… they’ll tell people about it. So that if our closing weekend suddenly spikes with a lot of ticket sales after opening? We know it is word of mouth driven engagement.
As to how the show actually went? Just right! Maybe even a shade too well. You see, there’s an old “superstition” that says “Bad Dress Rehearsal Means Great Opening”.... and technically the word superstition isn’t quite right. Because it stems from an application of logic. IF Dress has everything going wrong; we know and are lightning focused on what we need to fix during Opening. If Dress goes perfectly? The unpredictability of live theater may bite us in the ass on Opening. Now… there were 4 distinct areas during Final Dress that went off the rails. They were technical issues that can be relatively easily adjusted. SO… something big that we can fine tune… exactly what you want to go wrong for Final Dress. But with no serious line flubs or moments dropped? I just hope we don’t rest on our laurels and can produce to our high standard for opening.
An excellent example:
There’s a bit we’ve worked over and over because… when it works, it’s perfect and when it fails, it sucks. During a panic, I run for the kitchen as my brother is leaving- thus slamming the door into me. This is one of those moments where… the director is right. When our timing is where it needs to be? BLOODY BRILLIANT. If we’re off by even half a second- it looks staged, and poorly, and reads like bad comedy writing performed by drunk performers. WELL- our go of it during Final Dress apparently went so well that the guests of the actor playing my brother asked him “Is that supposed to happen?” Which is EXACTLY the sweet spot we want! Here’s hoping we can recreate with precision during Opening!!
UPDATE: The director e-mailed me my notes from last night- “Damned near perfect” which.... welcome to my busted ass brain… that worries me more than if he’d listed 12 things to fix! lol
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