Sunday was a monumental day. We ran the entire show without books in our hands and I have to say it was quite good. Was it perfect? No. Was it performance quality? Not yet. But still it was more than the baby taking a few steps and then falling on his tookus. This was the kid toddling into the kitchen for a snack for the first time.
We’re three weeks and four days away from opening. I've had the misfortune of being in shows where the object of some of the cast was to have their lines learned by opening night. More often than not, when that's their goal, they miss their objective. That’s not theatre, that’s a nightmare and a waste of everyone's time---especially the audience's time. Productions like that don’t rehearse, they hold play practice. And the difference is all the difference.
In Knock Knock, now is when we actors get to play, to refine, to experiment. Decide what works and what does. This time is why actors do and must "act". Yes, it is addictive and is a borderline disease. A disease for which, in my experience, there is no cure.
There is a paint crew that is priming the set this morning. The set should be completed when the crew finishes their work on Tuesday. People are poised to implement light and sound. Props are gathering. Costumes are on track.
Unabashedly, the purpose of this blog is show what a humongous task putting on a live theatre performance. Any live theatre. Including professional theatre. But, add the dynamic of no one getting paid, having their own jobs and lives and putting in incalculable hours that, for many, the only reward is an occasional "thank you" is incredible. As actors, (hopefully) we get laughs and applause. So many deserving people get nothing but they do it anyway.
That is the spirit of theatre and the spirit of art.
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