So I’m cast in Knock Knock as Cohn, an irascible mid-aged hermit who lives with his equally irascible mid-aged hermit friend Abe in a cabin in the woods. Neither of these gentlemen has left their home in 20 years. Along the way they are visited by Joan of Arc (accompanied by her Voices) who wants Cohn and Abe to accompany her to see the Emperor and tell him that the sky is missing and that the Emperor needs to build 1000 spaceships to take people to heaven and save them from the holocaust.
I know. I know. You’re think---what a tired old plot line. But trust me, it’s hysterical. Part Marx Brothers slapstick and word play, part satire, part…fill in the blank.
Last night was the first read-through for Knock Knock. Led by director Frances McCain, we sat in comfort in the lobby of the TLT Workshop and read the play aloud. No matter how many times you read a play silently by yourself, there is no substitute for hearing the characters come alive through the spoken word. This is because plays aren’t written to be read silently like a book. They don't work like that. Plays are written to be heard and seen. And hopefully, you'll be able to hear this one over your own laughter.
I’m going to try to provide a narrative of one actor’s journey through the six to eight week process of putting on a play – this play. It's mean to be informative and hopefully entertaining. I'd like you to leave comments to tell me how I'm doing. Onward we go. Gotta learn those damn lines.
End of Chapter 1.
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