The trip to New Orleans was incredibly eventful for Mrs. Rogue and I. We got jobs, we found some wonderful houses, learned our way around the city and had a mid-sleet storm crawfish boil. But time did not stand still in Ruston while we were away. My little excursion (necessary as it might have been) cost me a whole week of rehearsals for the upcoming production of "Zorro" and it shows.
The cast did well in my absence (amazing, I know, but true) loosely blocking almost all the fights, and working interior scenes (most of which did not involve everyone's favorite bumbling Sergeant). There was also a ton of set construction done while I was away (not that there isn't a ton more left to do). The cast themselves had an eventful week as well, with at least three crew members coming through the Easter weekend (and the infamous "Stage Combat Workshop") with injuries, one of them quite severe. Our costumer has been laid low with a severely broken leg (she's doing much better now after undergoing surgery yesterday), which means that this weekend's rehearsal (originally scheduled as a stumble through with costumes and lights) has been radically altered (it's now a workday with only minimal rehearsals). 
The fact that I've done a lot of theatre over the years has enabled me to swing back into things pretty well. I don't look that far behind most of the rest of the cast, but I'm definitely behind where I should be with line memorization (reminder: less "American Idol" more line work). We are (as our director so politely pointed out last night) two weeks away from opening, and we will be ready. It just never seems that way at this point in the rehearsal period. As "Shakespeare in Love" put it:
Phillip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Exit Stage Left: The Continuing Adventures of the Drunken Actor
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6 comments:
reminds me of the days of old with Leaf men and Peter Pan.. and yes that quote is so very true of theatre. I miss it but well .. well there is no excuse really.. anyway Joel yo uand Ella are always welcoem in Lafayette. So if the Big easy gets boring I am sure my apartment and keg-erator will liven things up. later
Thanks for the invite and the well wishes, but you gotta remember to drop you name in there with the comment.
You masked commenter you!
You're doing fine my brother...we're just getting used to being the doughy, older model...ass opposed to the 15 year olds that are jumping off of walls in the show. Remember when we were young and had hair? Wait...that's my retirement speech. Never mind.
Oh, to be young and have hair again! You may be holding onto that speech for your retirement, but this sort of is my retirement, so I may give this one tonight.
Awww Joel, now you make me feel bad for my quip last night about "When are you going to start playing Gonzales". Oh, and you can't forget to put in the best line that Geofrey Rush says throughout that whole move. "I don't know, it's a mystery!"
Paul thanks for joining us on the new site. Incidentally I'm typing this on my Wii!
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