It's Done!!! Now what?

I went to my hotmail account to log in and see the account as I have only used it as a login for this blog. Lo and behold I could not get into see my email account. Now this baffles me as I have been logging on to this site for years and the email account was no where to be found. The wonders of cyber space and the way it shouldn't work.

Wizard of Oz finally closed. I'm going to miss Aunty Em and Glinda. It was a challenge playing two roles and two distinct personalities. Aunty Em was tired and a little grumpy especially with the farm hands and Glinda was sparkly and light. My singing still needs work but I got the songs out as best I could. I guess I did okay as I was complemented several nights on my duality. I'm really going to miss working with this cast. They deserve to relax as they have been working so hard on lines, songs and dancing. I don't actually get to relax until tomorrow as I have a meeting. I hate meetings. I especially hate them now as I always miss some kind of protocol. The book doesn't help I only get even more confused. But having totally digressed from the topic as per the usual, it was a very successful show.

We had six standing ovations, one for each show, but I'm still saying it was for Toto. The little dog stole the show in every way possible. Closing night, final hug between Aunty Em and Dorthy, just as the curtain close, Toto decides to give us kisses. That little dog knew his cues better than some of us humans. If we weren't being upstaged by the dog, it was the kids who played the munchkins/winkies/flying monkeys who were stealing the show. And what a great bunch of kids. All of them talented, supportive and very very engerectic.

We ran the gauntlet of chicken pox, colds, flus, nerves, anxiety attacks, and a few mental disorders rising up. That was just a small portion, then we had our share of behind the scenes dramas, work issues, family issues and keeping the cast from all the political BS that the city and legion dished out. To top that all off, we even had a problem with a very intoxicated and amorous audience member. Did I mention the politics of the club to add to the mix. I am surprised any of us came out sane. (Using the term loosely especially in my case) I swear I should write a soap opera based on a drama theatre. The sad thing is, from talking to other people belonging to other clubs and not just theatre, this is the norm. It has been a learning experience for all involved and a growing spurt for the club that did include the pain. A lot of it.

The most important thing of all, is that the patrons went home with a smile on their faces. That's all that matters in end. They are the ones who pay to us to entertain them. With each production, there is a set of challenges, whether it be script intensive or the complexity of the set or how the sounds will carry through out a full audience. What amazes me, is no matter the challenge, we have managed so far to overcome and outdo ourselves each time. I have to say as a member of this club, I am terrified of what they will come up with next. I'm waiting for the ropes and levers to make a cast member fly across the stage.

My house is showing the neglect. Dustbunnies are multiplying as I type. I really do wonder how the working people do it. Home, work, family and then they add theatre to really intensify the stress. There is a back log of laundery and dishes waiting for me and of course as I sit here I can see the floor and walls are in sad need of attention.

Screw it. I'm going to go play the Wii and pretend I can wave a wand and make it all disappear.

Morning!

Yeah, about this weather everybody has been experiencing lately; tell me again how this has nothing to do with global warming? I have no doubt it is climate change, but what it's changing to is my question? Chicago is hit by the worst snow storm in mid western history(The warnings were hitting Canadian borders while it was still building over Texas): Austraila is being battered by sunami's and cyclones(I've heard from one friend she's okay, and Scribble was still blogging as of the 1st so I relaxed -a little): Russia experience's a heat wave right out of a disaster movie. Need we review the disasters that have occured. Personally I think its Mother Nature buiding up to give humanity one hell of a spanking.

In our own house, I have one dog shedding like there is no tomorrow. Normally at this time of the year, Patches has a thick, sparkley long white coat. This year, he looks like a neglected street dog. I comb him but within an hour it doesn't look like I've done a thing. The cat is ticked off because every time she goes outside there is this frozen white stuff on the ground. The Beagles try get rambunctious but when they have to plough through the snow, they get a little cold.

Bunnies have been rampant this year. Have you ever tried to pull off a 55lb Beagle from the scent of a bunny? Let me tell you its not easy. I knew the minute I saw the bunny tracks it would be a matter of nano-seconds before he caught the scent. I hadn't finished the thought when Gigi and I went flying into the back alley. Not even a fresh blanket of snow could hide that delectable fragrance from Buster's nose. His muzzle dove into the white and billows of fresh powder snow plumed out from his face. He came up once for air, sneezed and then was back into the dive. I tried for half a block to pull him off and finally got his attention at the end. I think the trail ended but I couldn't be sure as he looked up at me and then to the bunny trail slowly being closed over by tire tracks and footprints. He was quite happy to come home for lunch. I went for a soak and tried to reattach my arm to it's socket.

This play is killing me. I have learned a very valuble lesson in this. I will never go from one play to another again. I was nuts, not only didn't I stay in a nice comfy role that would not have required the all the work we are doing, I decide on a whim to challenge myself. Just to intensify the experience of it all. Now I do believe that a director should have an idea of what it is like to stand up on stage and do the things demanded of them that they demand of others. That's just me, because as a director myself, I have a damn good understanding of what I am asking of my actors and crew. Because I give 110% (or give it a damn good try) I expect it of my directors, actors and crew. I'm panicking cause I still am screwing up on my songs, flubbling lines and the set is waiting for me to finish painting it. If I'm freaking out at this point, I can't imagine what the directors are feeling at this point.

I guess I have procrastinated enough on the housework.