Sad Today

I am always sad after a show closes. The intense camaraderie formed during the three months we, as a cast and crew, have spent together ended last night. Even if we get together socially, the relationship will never be the same as it was when we were all working toward the goal of telling the story and getting it right. Working very hard to bring to fruition the director's vision of the writer's story.

Yes, of course there will be other shows. If I'm very lucky, there will be other shows with these actors and techies, but it won't be this show. This show is over.

Delaney, I am so sorry you decided not to go to the party. Nobody got to say goodbye to you. Is that why you didn't go? You wanted to escape the goodbyes? You should have gone. People tell you lovely things at a strike party. Like this. I think you did a fantastic job, in spite of your inner misgivings about the way you looked in costume and makeup, and your discomfort with stage kisses. You are very talented, and did much better than you think you did. You brought a quality to the character that wasn't in the script, and that's what being an assistant story teller is all about.

The rest of you, I spoke to last night. I loved working on this show, even having gone into it with trepidation, knowing that a bad rap had preceded me with some of you.

Of course, my sadness is exacerbated by the fact that this is the first show I have done since Jim died. So many times, the thought ran through my head; "Jim would have loved this." Those of you Jim had worked with over the years were all people he enjoyed working with, and those who didn't know him are totally his kind of people. People with humour and dedication, and the ability to grow and play.

The excitement of working with such people is what, for me, Sam Bass Theater is all about. It has always been that way.

I wish all of you the best of luck in any future productions. Please keep me posted about such projects so that I can come and see you.

All in all, I am very glad I have a reservation to see "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" this afternoon, and dinner with friends this evening.

That will keep me from wallowing.