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Community Performance Inc.

October 03, 2008

I've just had a cup of soothing Vista tea, in response to the major computer crash I experienced this week. Can you imagine, opening a show tonight, we're in final tech week, and I don't have the use of my most precious. Richard offered that I could use his computer, but I want MY computer, it's set up MY way and it has MY stuff. Or, at least it Did have my stuff. I'm glad I backed up all of my files before I left, because in the crash, it had to be totally restarted under original factory settings, so I now don't have any of my current research with me. Argggggh. I won't have it until after I get home, and I still have another show to go to Sunday in north GA. But, getting ahead of myself here. Arg. Other than that, I'm fine.

We've had some more community activity around the project. We walked out the door yesterday, and Dot Wainwright, the volunteer coordinator, had set up a wonderful display outside the door with a scarecrow, and used the pumpkins that were grown in the community garden that is next door to the theater now. The scarecrow had a sign that said Welcome to Swamp Gravy.

The small souvenir room that we used to use was vacated, and Louey (costume designer) and I turned it in to a kids room. We put carpet down, hung curtains, set up a dvd, put teh playpen in one corner, away from the noise, and lined the shelves with toys, coloring books, card games, puzzles, play doh. The kids loved it, but the parents especially loved it because it gives the kids a place to be, and be safe, and have fun, and be out of trouble, if it came looking for any of them. We've got lots of little kids in the cast this year, which is beautiful, its how they learn about and participate intheir heritage and culture. And...it's really hard to do day after day,rehearsal after rehearsal. Even adults have a hard time holding focus that long. So, the kids now have a place to "be".

We spent the morning and rest of the day doing last minute touches- from 10:00 am on--running through scenes with actors, setting new light cues, adding more to the set. Before we knew it, it was evening, and we had maybe 20 minutes to run home, shower and change. Then,The audience started coming in, and we were ready for lift off. And the cast really lifted this play. There was a huge buzz in the room at intermission, because so much of what is in the play is what is happening this week. Stock market crashes, bank closings, farm foreclosures. Stories about not being able to drive cars anymore because nobody had money for gas. The mystery of how story can tap into the here and now was striking. And all of the hard work done by the cast paid off with a standing O.

It is a strong show, and they've worked really hard, too. It's probably one of the strongest openings I've seen here in Colquitt. We had a really good preview Wed. night, and it was almost scary-good. We warned them about the trick of letting down your guard after a good final rehearsal. You know how over-confidence can fool a cast after a great final preview. But it didn't happen, they didn't let down. Sure, there was a missed line here or there, but they were such pros and handled it with such grace and the audience really loved them. They're strong, and ready to rocket forward.

   

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