How's "Marius" coming along?

So glad you asked! It's been a fruitful, though stressful time for me. My 95-year-old mother has been under siege, and as primary care manager, her issues have affected every aspect of my being. For several months, rather than pulling focus onto "Marius" and my character, Fanny's mother Honorine, I was under constant stress and many constraints, and these held me back. I felt myself in free fall a few weeks ago, when, during a rehearsal, I just about lost it. That's the one I should have cancelled, now that I think back on it. But, to quote Woody Allen, "Half of success is showing up." And, so I did.

At the hospital with Mum. Photo by my brother, Tony Carlson.

Things are a lot better now. I pushed myself to redouble my memorization efforts and develop my character. My wardrobe, which required more hours in thrift shops than I can count, is near perfection. I've got three dresses and two hats, plus a real 1930s style pair of shoes, in addition to the garb from my own closets. The best glimmer of future success came over me last week, when I felt - in one scene, at least - as though I was being pulled by a higher power toward Honorine's very essence. 

Alida Rouffe as Honorine in the film version of Marcel Pagnol's "Marius."

Our director, Roland David Valayre, has been superb in pushing us to reach higher and higher goals, leading us through private workshops at home in addition to weekly rehearsals at Fort Mason. For me, it's been like taking a master class.

 As Honorine, with Ket Watters as bar owner César - from the "Marius" video trailer.

There's lots more work to be done by all of us in this production. We are not even in the theater yet, nor have we seen the new revolving set. We have heard some sound cues. Our blocking will evolve in the formal space, and David has warned us that his notes will continue to come our way during the entire run.

Best part: we actors are establishing a comfort zone as a troupe, and that's a great feeling.