Great Second Weekend

Buoyed by the success of the first weekend and the glowing review, the cast did a fantastic job integrating Noah into the cast. The show looked and sounded better than ever, and the "Safety Net" offered by the whole cast is great. When an audience is less than responsive, the cast cheers, laughs, and responds to each other, just as a set of friends would, and it is magical because they pull the crowd along with them.

Sara left the cast after Sunday's show (planned), but she will be supporting us from the audience towards the end of the run, and will definitely join us for the cast party. I enjoyed the quiet sweetness she brought to the role. (So, Erin is reading this right now saying, "So, what? I'm loud and mean?") Nope, different actresses, different takes on the role, plain and simple. Both are great. (You're welcome, Shawn.)

And we get Arryck back this weekend, which will be fun. Not that Noah isn't. He is. But a change of pace is always fun, and it's neat that we get to mix and match performers in this production. I'm all for stability and consitency of the production, but this weird little bit of chaos has actually made for a more stable and consitent show, believe it or not.

It all goes back to that "Safety Net" I mentioned earlier. As the show progresses, they are each expanding the depth and breadth of the net, allowing each other to become a bit more daring. Not with ad libs or dramatic tangents (which still bug me), but in finding freshness each performance and letting the audience in. This will be paramount starting July 1 with the dual performances (matinee and evening), as they will be physically exhausted by the evening and will have to find the energy.

It exists among them, and they're experiencing it now, which is cool.

Pickup rehearsal on Thursday for Erin and Arryck. Same time, same Bat Channel.


- Sean