We’ve finished our first week of previews and the audience response is quite positive. I’m sure it’s a happy moment for producers when some of the attendees actually pay to get in. For me, I’m just glad somebody likes it. There comes a point where the notes, even tho’ they’re obviously meant to help make one’s performance an artistic experience; a moment that will last thru the ages and leave audiences gasping in awe, are just a pita. Did you follow that sentence? Me neither. But you can tell when your friends say things like, “Congratulations!” or “It’s so great to see you up there!” and they really bump up the enthusiasm on the line reading. We’re not getting too many of those, and that’s gratifying.
The week itself sucked. Really. Once again, the actual hard work, and long days and nothing else in life but getting there, and getting home and back again, and isn’t there something else I can take to keep my voice working?? And WHY do I keep doing that wrong??? On the other hand, the talk-back /interview series after the shows has proven to be surprisingly fun and interesting. To me and a couple dozen audience members anyway. It’s really too short a time to get the kinds of rich insights that Studs was able to glean (I think that’s the first time in my life I ever typed the word ‘glean’), but people are genuinely interested in each other. The audience members ask interesting questions and as a consequence, the guests offer up interesting answers about themselves and their lives. If we’re doing one the nite you come, stick around a few minutes.
Speaking of ‘the nite you come’… everyone! from producer on down, HEADS UP! Please stop telling us who’s in the audience tonight. I don’t really really care, …but it’s a remarkably annoying little distraction I don’t need, can’t use. I wish I had that bottomless bucket of FU. Sadly, I do not. Obviously, on press nite everybody and their brother will be there. Many of them sending judgmental vibes right alongside the worried director vibe toward the stage. But I like to play-act on those occasions, and pretend nobody showed up at all, and all those people in the seats are just walk-ups. So do me a favor and please don’t tell me what nite you or Ann Reinking or James Taylor are coming. …even if I got tickets for you.
