Then vs Now

When I think back to the times I spent with actors in New York City so long ago (mainly in Trent Gough's writing, acting, and directing workshop off Broadway when my primary interest was directing), the first thing that comes to mind is the camaraderie, the hanging out at pubs on 8th Avenue after class (Beauregards!), getting to know the other artists, that sense of community, and the inevitable....can you guess where I'm going with this?

In Petaluma, it has been quite different. People seem very independent, and quite guarded, to say the least. That "bedroom community feel." Talk is short and terse. Eyes and lifestyle cues almost impenetrable. Time condensed. Kept to the work. Turn around to blow your nose and look up again after a rehearsal - even tonight, a pretty important night - then you see everyone but you has left. Spooky. I mean, 10 minutes later, everyone is gone! Well, it is October...Driving, day jobs, the economy, families, people must have their reasons.

Nice moment: Joe collected us actors and audio man into a circle hug before we went onstage. Very encouraging. A good move. He said all the right things.

Our dress rehearsal was decent, not perfect, but the main thing is our energy was up and we broadened our scope as actors. Every time one of us opened up, the next actor followed suit, fuller force. Occasionally we stepped on each others' lines and sometimes one of us forgot a cue (moi!). But the other actor would step up to the plate. AnaKarina who plays Ana, the protagonist, my stage daughter, is great at this. A real pro. I am learning from her pragmatic professionalism.

My directors' private note: Work on that accent.... a bit too singsong. I couldn't agree more. So glad I have tomorrow to do that and play the guitar, even take a swim.

Oh, that other surprise (to me only?) of the evening: In an audience of around 65 only 3 or 4 in attendance were male. And I had thought men would love this play! Writer Lopez gives them permission to be flies on the wall. To any men reading this: you would love this play!

What do I know? At least this ratio guarantees an interesting time Saturday night for my bro.

Oh, how could I forget....we got a lot of good belly laughs tonight. That's just so so so encouraging.

I'll post some photos of the setting soon.