|
Tonight is the night. All the work of the last four weeks comes to fruition tonight. The critics come, as do our biggest supporters. Subscribers and Funders show their support by coming to the before and after parties.
It is a difficult night for actors. I always tell the cast to play the play lightly and not to do anything we haven’t talked about or worked on. As Don says in our play, “play within yourself.” I also told them at the first preview, “protect each other, connect with each other, take care of each other because they are all they have.” As an actor I have always believed that and it’s how I proceed.
For me it is a melancholy night. I am now of no service any longer. Over the previews I have been turning the work over to them, after all it is a living organism and it is theirs. I say less and less and ask them more and more about how it plays, how things are working and if they feel they are doing the playwright’s bidding.
In our profession we form fast friends and families in the blink of an eye, and just as quickly our little families are broken apart, rarely to be reassembled. Hopefully I will cross paths with these players again, as I respect their talent tremendously. I have loved collaborating with our designers, and would have them on my team anytime.
As for the folks at INTIMAN, they are a loving and dedicated company, supportive, generous and incredibly hard working. Not for profit theatre is a challenging life, much is demanded of you and not enough resources are provided. You have to have a passion and a dream, a desire to create something special and be willing to sacrifice a chunk of your life to that end. My friends at INTIMAN, headed by Bart Sher and Laura Penn, are clearly of that stripe.
Now I start rehearsal for Retreat From Moscow, at my own theatre Northlight in Chicago. The play is completely different than Rounding Third, a difficult piece about a disintegrating marriage, in England and stylistically and dramatically it is both moving and provocative. It is in the parlance of Rounding Third “a change up.”
This is an amazing career I am blessed to have. The work is challenging, ever changing and so rewarding. Only a few of us get the opportunity and I am mindful of the privilege.
So back to the Windy City! Though I will keep my eye on the Mariner’s progress this season, I gotta say, “GO SOX.”
More anon…I hope…
Beej
|
