September 26, 2006
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There is No Headline
for this entry. It only looks like it since my first four words were so huge and I capitalized most of them.
We completed our final performance of Arsenic & Old Lace
on Sunday afternoon and had the cast party last night. The second
weekend went better than the first. Friday night's crowd was not
huge but they were great laughers--among them were RVMann and
Chesswrangler, who seem to have abandoned Xangaland for real life
lately. Both of those guys have acted in plays I've directed and
it was great to see them there. Saturday's crowd was more like
I'd hoped for all along. We had about 150 and they laughed at
everything--with the positive feedback vibe between audience and
actors, Saturday was definitely our best overall performance.
After that, Sunday afternoon was somewhat of a letdown, with only about
50 again. I'm relieved to be done, still very disappointed in the
turnout, but happy with how we did and the fun that we all had.Saturday night we also had a harrowing event involving our "Teddy
Brewster" actor who is quite a big guy. He always puts a lot of
exuberance into his performances and his final "Charge!" of the night
up the stairs and through the door was so vigorous that inertia drove
him forward, crashing
through the canvas wall at the end of the 6-foot tall platform and
plummeting face-first off of it to the floor,
spinning around in air when his elbow clipped the platform and landing
flat on his
back in the narrow space between the platform and the back
brick wall with a huge thud. Those of us backstage ran
over, terrified that he might be severely hurt, but after groaning and crying
out, he sprang up assuring us he was all right. The action on the stage had come to a standstill after the crash
and immense thud, as everyone was wondering about his fate, but he went around and
poked his head through the door and waved at the audience and onstage cast
members to let them know he was all right and got a big cheer. After
the cast members recovered their
composure, they went on with the show. He was more concerned
about losing his pince-nez than with his injury. Afterwards, his
elbow had to be iced, but that appears to have been the extent of it.
We were all amazed and relieved that he was not hurt worse--it could
have been much more serious.I'm a bit befuddled as to how we can bring in more audience
members. People will come to watch their kids no matter how bad
the show is (Thanks, Mom and Dad). But even if we put on a great
show few people attend. Of course I'm partial since I'm
directing, but I think that even an objective U.N. observer would
conclude that our acting is not all that bad really, and that there is
no evidence we are concealing WMD's.In light of this, I think that for our next production we will invite
the U.N. and cast
about 40 children in "Demolition Derby: The Musical" in order to
blend two popular activities around these parts. We can
take for granted that the children's families will be there every
night. We can
probably market it best to the general public however as simply "Demolition Derby at
the Theater!" without specifying that it's a theater production. The Marion
County Fair Demolition Derby last month attracted 3900 people for one
night, and I think last month's "Wizard of Oz" brought in well over
1100 (some repeaters, since family members went to multiple
performances to see the kids).
Comments (11)
And the results are in: Southern Illinois likes seeing things get destroyed more than good art. Unless it involves their kids. Probably doing shows that involve children and adults both is a good idea-- a "family event" if you will. I was really involved in Pyramid Players until a few years ago, and the plays always had/have a smaller crowd. I think it boils down to the fact that there are only so many people who are intelligent enough to sit through a play and understand what goes on
. (just kidding...kind of...) Sorry the turnout wasn't great...but hey, isn't that what the Romantic Period is all about? Art for art's sake.
This is a weird comment unrelated, but tonight I went to the optometrist for the first time in North America since before Kindergarten. As I was sitting there talking with a really nice older optometrist guy about why I can't wear glasses when I read, I thought, "Hey, I probably should have gone to my xanga friend's private practice one weekend on my way home." But as I thought about it, it seemed like a potentially very awkward situation. Plus, I was in the middle of cataract testing, plus EyeMed only pays for 1 exam every year, plus you might not parter with EyeMed. But I DID think of you. ....See what I mean? Awkward.
Ha ha...you very funny man! I would go see Demo-Derby: The Musical...sounds like you're looking at GOOD, QUALITY, entertainment now!
i was only about 4 or 5 hours away on saturday (i permanently reside about 10 hours or so from marion county, il) and was not able to see the production. although i would've liked to, because i think arsenic and old lace is downright hilarious. i am sorry i was unable to attend. if it is necessary, i will send along a note from my parent or doctor for an excused absence.
What a great show! Sorry to hear about Teddy charging through the wall, but after the shock and finding out he wasn't hurt - it's kind of funny. Or at least it will be funny when he tells that story to his friends and family. As for abondoning Xangaland for real life, well...er, uh.......................ok, here goes. I have a myspace and I have been spending more time there. I'm so ashamed.
But in my own defense, I have never had to look up the definition of pince-nez as a result of reading stuff over there. I thought it was some fancy french talk that meant something about losing his comedic style and replacing it with audience pity.
Besides, I think a lot of people like the the Nutella post!
Natalie jo,
Thanks for empathizing with me about community theater. In regards to the eye exam, we don't take EyeMed (their reimbursement is really poor), but if you'd come to our clinic you probably could have asked for the Xanga discount. No one would have known what you were talking about since there is no such discount and the front desk people don't know what Xanga is, but you could have asked at least, for awkwardness' sake. Thanks for the sentiment!
trip tuh phan,
Good to hear from you again. You disappeared around the same time as chesswrangler. I heard a rumor you were in some middle eastern country.
skinnafish,
No doctor/parental note is necessary. Your contrite apology is accepted. I don't really expect someone from that far away, whom I've never actually met to show up. But I'm really disappointed you weren't there.
chesswrangler,
I'll have to re-visit yourspace some time if I can recall how to get there, or you tell me. I looked at it a few weeks ago and then got sidetracked with this "play" thing and haven't had time for such frivolity.
Hey Dan! I heard that the show was a success. I'm sorry I couldn't make it! Hopefully future plays will go even better. Definitely work on that automotive combat bonus feature. In a growly shout "SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SHAKESPEARE! SHAKESPEARE! SHAKESPEARE!"
Dave, sounds like a good idea. Maybe we can use it for our HALLOWEEN MONSTER TRUCK RALLY, too!
Good show. Very good show, mate. I have to admit, I have also taken up more time on MySpace...not nearly as rewarding most of the time, and I neglect that site almost as much as this one, but I'll see if I can get back into the swing of things here. Just don't hold your oxygen waiting to see.
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