play update — starting the countdown
yesterday was "tech" day for the play which i guess is a notoriously boring day for actors. there is no acting, just standing on the stage while they get your lighting correct for each scene. only our play doesn't have "scenes" but 3 acts and some 100 "moments." so there's a lot of different lighting.

i was expecting to be there for 12 hours or something, but the director gave the lighting guy strict rules: he couldn't keep the actors for more than four hours. so, we went home at five. pretty damn easy.

most of the time was just hanging out in the lobby chatting and laughing and eating (we had a huge potluck; i brought pad thai and scored extra points). one of the castmembers used to cut hair for a living and a few guys needed a trim (to say the least) for their parts. he ended cutting at least three of the guys hair including the director.

but the fun part was being out in the courtyard of the theater which is one block from downtown, so lots of people are walking by. and as the director gets his hair cut the guys burst into all kinds of songs — and they can sing. loud, bravado, broadway voices. but they were all dirty and nasty, funny songs from monty python and tenacious d. it was pretty hilarious. ;)

so we only have two more rehearsals: full run in costume tonight and then dress rehearsal on tuesday. wednesday is "dark" (i'm learning new terms all the time). and then thursday is our unofficial opening night -- it's a benefit night for one of the organizations. then friday — big time opening night. yea!

everyone on the cast seems amazed by how smoothly everything is going. they all say they've never felt so ready for opening night. and either that means our cast kicks ass or we've got some unexpected uh-oh's coming up. also, everyone seems pretty impressed that the cast is getting along so well. no prima donnas. i think this is because there are no stars in this play — no one is the big star. lots of first-timers and nearly everyone is in the play because of it's content; for matthew.

meanwhile i'm totally fighting off a cold. no no no no no. that's what i'm telling my sinuses. go away is what i'm telling my sore throat. and quit yer wheezing is what i'm telling my lungs. i hope they listen.