Per the request of my dedicated Director, I have been told to get back to this blog. Yes, I know, I haven't written since we put the show in front of audiences. I had intended to write about each performance. Honestly, I haven't been able to articulate how the shows feel to me.
Including our final dress rehearsal/preview night, we have had nine glorious performances. This afternoon will mark our last show. Yes, in just a few hours, I will have to...unBlanche myself.
The performances have been very steady. We have had no major derailings or delays. The show is running right on track. Nearly every performance has been sold out. That feels nice - even if it is a small theatre that will seat 60 patrons. We have received many kind words about the production.
There is a scene in the first act where Stanley accuses Blanche of selling the family home in Laurel and keeping all the money. At the top of that scene, she is "freshly bathed and scented." During that time, I am in my slip and dressing on the stage (not in the same "room" with Stanley). I managed to put my dress on backwards one night of opening weekend and had to take the time to turn it around the right way! The forgiving audience, Stanley, and I shared that moment together. Then, of course, we moved right on with the scene without feeling odd about it. I think, strangely enough, it pulled the audience closer to the story.
Another night, I failed to bring on the ever important paper lantern as Stella and Blanche returned from their girl's night out (the night of the poker party). It is very important that we have the paper lantern, and I didn't realize what I had done until the moment I was to ask Mitch to put it over the light bulb. I decided in that moment that Blanche had dropped it on the street on the way back...and I went out of the "apartment" and "down the street" off stage to retrieve it from my wonderful stage manager who was there in the wings with the lantern (smiling). I had friends in the audience who didn't even notice anything was different. Phew!
We have had some lovely moments together. The cast. The crew. The audiences. I look forward to being able to begin and finish Blanche's journey once more...in just a few hours.
Including our final dress rehearsal/preview night, we have had nine glorious performances. This afternoon will mark our last show. Yes, in just a few hours, I will have to...unBlanche myself.
The performances have been very steady. We have had no major derailings or delays. The show is running right on track. Nearly every performance has been sold out. That feels nice - even if it is a small theatre that will seat 60 patrons. We have received many kind words about the production.
There is a scene in the first act where Stanley accuses Blanche of selling the family home in Laurel and keeping all the money. At the top of that scene, she is "freshly bathed and scented." During that time, I am in my slip and dressing on the stage (not in the same "room" with Stanley). I managed to put my dress on backwards one night of opening weekend and had to take the time to turn it around the right way! The forgiving audience, Stanley, and I shared that moment together. Then, of course, we moved right on with the scene without feeling odd about it. I think, strangely enough, it pulled the audience closer to the story.
Another night, I failed to bring on the ever important paper lantern as Stella and Blanche returned from their girl's night out (the night of the poker party). It is very important that we have the paper lantern, and I didn't realize what I had done until the moment I was to ask Mitch to put it over the light bulb. I decided in that moment that Blanche had dropped it on the street on the way back...and I went out of the "apartment" and "down the street" off stage to retrieve it from my wonderful stage manager who was there in the wings with the lantern (smiling). I had friends in the audience who didn't even notice anything was different. Phew!
We have had some lovely moments together. The cast. The crew. The audiences. I look forward to being able to begin and finish Blanche's journey once more...in just a few hours.
You are my hero!
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