Tomorrow is Final Dress

Tonight was a really strange rehearsal. With the weather being so bad, I was surprised that as many showed up as did. So, we started out working scenes, instead of having a run-through, because quite a few kids were late.

(Y'all in the north reading this will probably find it funny, but a bit of freezing precip is enough to make us all stay home, here. Even me, actually! I was quite surprised to find out just how slippery my driveway was, after I stepped out of the car. I've never driven on snow or ice, having got my license down here. But I digress.)

It's too late to fix a lot of the problems I saw tonight, but we did take the time to work on some of them. Some will be gone by Sunday, which is why I never like to see a show on opening night.

Apparently, enough people are supposed to be coming tomorrow night that I should be worrying about seating them all. Most popular shows will draw about half a house for final dress, particularly if it's a large-cast show. This one is super-popular.

I have one Mommy who comes to rehearsals occasionally, and can't help but contribute her observations on how the production could be improved. Mostly(I think she thinks) by replacing the director with someone who actually knows what she is doing (like her). Most of her suggestions are valid, and designed to improve the presentation of her children. It seems that this particular Mommy wonders why I cast the girl I did as Beth, instead of her daughter. The simple answer would be that I know the girl I cast; have known her for many years, and know that she can memorize the huge number of lines Beth has. The more complex one is that for me, this girl IS Beth. She is smart, unpretentious, and has no idea how good she is. I've been watching her grow a character through the rehearsal period, and I'm impressed.

I had so many girls at the auditions who would have been very good "Beths." They all think they understand Beth. They don't. They go through the motions very well, but if you were to watch the play, you'd catch yourself being impressed that the girl can learn so many lines. With my choice, you feel that you are seeing Beth.

It is an awkward show to block, and, in order to show the mother to advantage, I have to put her upstage. Try as I may, I can't seem to get the kids to look away from her, and show more of their faces to the audience. Of course, now I see that it could be turned around, but that is one of the things that it is too late to fix.

The one girl that I've been trying to convince to cheat out more, has suddenly decided to cheat out too much. Hopefully, she'll find a happy medium.

I think, for the most part, they are still having fun. Having an audience will kick the fun up a notch.

I am truly awe-striken by the dedication, commitment, and talent that my cast and crew have brought to this project. I hope I'm worthy of them.