Curtain Call

"The best part of acting is the drink after the show." Lawrence Olivier

Last night was our final show. I've been a bag of mixed emotions all week, despondent at the end of the run one moment, impatient for it to end the next.

I don't think I could have had a better experience if I had planned it myself, but for now, I'm happy just to get a hot bath and a bit of lunch on the cusp of a matinee free Sunday afternoon.

Three Shows To Go

"It never occurred to me to do something I hated for a living." - Paul McCartney

Ragdoll and I were chatting Saturday about how in many ways, we have started new phases in our lives. Ragdoll has finished the first draft of her book, a three year exercise in diligence, vision and as my Granda used to put it "graft." This year, I've been relatively successful at leaving the more anemic and despondent aspects of my life behind and have been doing my play.

For many years, hell as long as I can remember, we've both dreamed big dreams, had definitive visions for our lives and what they could be. And now it seems, we're both a little bit closer to living what we envisioned.

After we finished our matinee yesterday, "Costanza" was talking about the fact that we only have three shows left and then we're done. I couldn't help but agree with her when she said that it will be all she could do not to burst into tears at our last show.

As tiring and downright exhausting as this play has been, I haven't been this happy in ages. This play reacquainted me with a long abandoned yet fundamental part of myself. And as much as I am looking forward to getting time back to be at home, to write and to see the Marine, family and friends, there's another part of me absolutely dreading this return to "normal" life, that dreads losing that magical feeling that walking into a theatre gives you.

I think way too much and get ahead of myself at times. I'm making a concerted effort to see the glass as half full. I'm thankful for my new job and the money I make doing it. But I also can't stop thinking about how I'll act and write full time and keep a mortgage paid. It occurred to me yesterday that if this is meant to be, then things will somehow work out. I just need to keep my end of the bargain. In my bones I believe that if I show up and work hard, I will get there. All I know is that acting and writing are two of the few things in my life that occupationally speaking, don't feel like an utter waste of my life force.

I have to admit that the past few weeks have been a great ego boost. I've gotten great feedback from so many people, a lot of whom were complete strangers who just wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed the show.

I can't help but believe that stands for something.

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Just a quick note to say Hi. Play has been going very well and I have found new levels of endurance having started a new job and battling a cold at the same time all my theatrical activities have been going on.

My folks and the Dumbarton Mob came on Friday night and they really enjoyed it. My Dad even admitted that although he expected to like me, he didn't expect the overall quality of the production to be so good.

What I do know is that the bug has bitten back with a vengeance, and I'm going to do everything I can over the next few years to make acting a full time gig.

But for now, a hot bath and some telly are in order. An evening at home. What bliss.

Noises Off

Well after a week of rehearsing/performing I'm finally getting to crash today with no performances until Wednesday. Yay!

So the summary is:

New job - meh.

Opening night - a triumph really in all respects. I had folks asking me at the after show wine and cheese if I was a professional. A PROFESSIONAL! Another quote from the evening: "The best show I've seen here in 30 years." Sure, it's community theatre but so what? I'll take what I can get.

2nd night - Well the second night curse hit. After a relentless week and the adrenaline rush of opening night, we had a literal comedy of errors backstage and on. Props left on or off, missed lines [I had to pinch hit in scene 4 last night LOL!], unprovoked attacks by stage curtains, my last scene dress getting put on backwards and a weary audience of about 35 who had trudged through one of the worst winter storms ever to get there. There were about as tired as we were I think.

Ah theatre. Never boring.

L.M.A.O.

Yes another late rehearsal and yes it's 12:25 a.m.

But I would have been remiss Romanship if I had not posted this link on the Top Rap Songs White People Love that I got from Bronte. Abso-freakin-hilarious.

All I'll say is this dude is totally on point about the whole Baby Got Back/Karaoke connection.

It then goes to a whole new level with the Top Ten Rock Songs Black People Love rebuttal.

I love it when ignorance gets a good skewering. It's sheer nirvana when it's this funny.

See You In a Bit

Well between starting a new job this week and rehearsing every night until my play opens, it's safe to say that blogging here won't be happening this week.

Be back as soon as I can! MUAH!