We’ve been rehearsing since the last week in February. We are currently immersed in the tech/dress process and the play opens tomorrow night. I’m exhausted. The actors, the stage manager, tech director, props mistress and costumer are all ready to set this play free and let it be what it will be.

I am curious to see how audiences will react. I’ve grown too close, too myopic, too familiar to be objective at this point. The actors are ready for an audience. Will the audiences laugh? Certainly there is some fun to be had.

Deep breath.

I am feeling a bit worn out, strung out and very emotional. I’m low on self-care and high (as in flying) on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Opening night is just slightly more than 24 hours away.

Deep breath.

I have had a long-standing love affair with this play. I fell in love with it at age 14 when I was awe struck by Hedda. I have always found her, in spite of her horrible behavior, to be a very sympathetic character. I would run from her in real life, but in the theatre I relish everything she is.

Deep breath.

This has been a beautiful rehearsal process for me. This cast is absolutely dreamy: eager, hard-working, passionate, growing, listening, digging deep and playing hard. My stage manager is on her game, runs a tight ship and travels with candy and bottles of water.

It strikes me that art/performance is like catch and release fishing. You work for it, tease it, play with it, search out the truth of it, own it briefly – then – once you have it where you want it (as close as that is possible) – you let it go.

This is me letting go. And…saying thank you to the cast and crew who have taken this trip with me.

Thank you.
Only 30 more miles to go till we’re home.
The play is yours to play with.
Enjoy!

Tags: Acting, Creative Process, Rehearsal, Theatre