Henslowe: Allow me to explain the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles
on the road to imminent disaster.
Fennyman: So what do we do?
Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Fennyman: How?
Henslowe: I don’t know. It’s a mystery.
- “Shakespeare in Love”
That quote is probably the single most brilliantly written quote about live theatre I’ve ever read. Nothing has more merit, more humor, and more brevity.. at least that I’ve found.
Seussical rehearsal went splendidly last night. After a rough move-in night, last night felt easy. We found a pace. Things are finding their rhythm. Everyone is starting to have fun. There was a lot of laughter. No tears. It was a nice change, and most definitely a necessary one.
Poor Mr. Sound Man, who just entered our odd little cocktail, seems so gloomy. “Cheer up,” I told him. “The good news is.. we open Friday. No matter what happens between now and then.. it WILL open. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Locomotive or not, there’s a light and I’m THRILLED about it.
I’ve stopped caring about acting and started having fun on stage. As it turns out, that always works better for me. The difference is night and day.
This show has made me miss stage managing, though. I’ve always loved to stage manage, and I feel confident in saying that I’m pretty damn good at it. I like the frenetic pace, the necessary organization.. any job that FORCES you to be organized is right up my alley.. I miss it. I miss being at the right hand of the director, and my voice being what keeps things going. I got a taste of it last night and it just whet my appetite.
My favorite part is watching the kids. The little boy playing JoJo, in particular, never ceases to amuse me. He is singularly the most articulate child I’ve come across, and I adore him. His face when we first walked into the VBC was nothing short of priceless. He asked me about sets built in the space, and if this is what all of the shows are like, and soon he was buzzing around like someone had wound him up. It was truly precious. And I need to remember.. HE’S the reason I do this. I remember the first time I walked into the Playhouse.. the first time I saw a show.. the first time I got those goosebumps.
He, and all of the other precious little children, are why I do this.
You’ve got to come see this show.
