'ART' was our first full-length play. We've done many short scenes and one-acts over the years, and now we know why. Spending as much time as we did with the cast to put this play on was an excruciating experience. "Never again" was the phrase that kept coming to mind as we neared closing night.
Seriously, this was perhaps our finest hour. Hour and a half, actually, and without intermission, it seemed like an hour-forty at least. In the end, I dare say we all felt strongly that we had raised the bar, both for the Intentional Theatre, as well as for each of us individually in our theatrical worlds. That may be overstating things, but I'd argue that we created theatre this time around.
Good luck to the touring company. We wish them the same success. Yeah, right.
Todd A. Little (Marc) brought a tremendous amount of experience to our stage, with 17+ years at Goodspeed Musicals among his many accomplishments since earning his degree in Fine Arts from some little-known mid-West community college. Still, we welcomed him with the benefit of doubt he so richly deserved. Later we learned he played the steel fiddle. Hoodathunkit?
At almost every gathering, Todd would take the director aside and offer some new insight into his character, or a new thought on a piece of dialogue. At one point, the director was heard to say "Geez, just say the words, okay??? We're closing tonight, already!"
Todd returned to our stage for our First Annual International Short Play Festival, so apparently we hadn't had enough of each other that we couldn't be on the same stage again.
Keith "Mr. B" Brayne (Serge), like the others in the cast, stepped onto our stage for the first time with this production. A veteran of the area's stages, and a multi-talented individual, Keith stretched a muscle on this one, and came out the fitter for it. He knows what I mean.
A native New Londoner, "Mr. B" knows just about everyone. He probably knows you, and you don't even know it. He rarely walks a city block without waving to someone. Not that they wave back, of course. In the days ahead, we would come to work with him again in a different project, but we look forward to the day he graces our stage again.
He'll turn up in the oddest of places, channeling all the dead Ramones, reciting Monty Python, or holding court on why something is funny. You best listen.
Christopher Devlin Brown (Yvan) has worked with some of the greats of music, film and now stage, with his debut at the Intentional Theatre. He showed up at rehearsal with Todd, and we figured he was just Todd's "ride", but then he started acting and being all funny and stuff, and... well, we thought he might be alright to hang around with.
No slouch of a photographer, and he knows his way around an upright bass, Chris (or CDB as he preferred to be called) made the ultimate sacrifice to be in the show. NO -- not that. He ate olives. And he was so believable doing so on stage, you could almost see him spit out the pits.
Chris ventured back our way for the Short Play Festival, even at the risk of his personal safety. The consummate professional, to say the least. Well, I could say even less, I suppose, but.....
If you take a look at some of the photos of the set, you'll see a pair of white high-back chairs among the sparse pieces that were called for to decorate above the fourth wall.
This is what they looked like before our set designer (my lovely wife and "better three-fourth's") worked her magic on them. Bought at bargain basement prices at a local bargain basement, they had all the character of bologna-and-cheese on white sammiches left under a bench in the 17th street subway station for a couple weeks. In fact, there was actually another piece of fabric on them that was even more alarmingly hideous than what their removal revealed (see picture).
What we found a bit surprising was that after our show, the Spring catalogue for Pier 1 came in the mail, and what do you think was featured on the cover? Yup, you got it. White high-back armless chairs. We take only some credit for the 2006 trends in furniture fashions.
The "boys", all cleaned up and getting along. It wasn't always this way. But be aware - we have the negative!!!
"Dammit I know this next line. I know it, I tell ya. I am NOT going to call for line. Just give me a second. It's..... it's...... aaaarrrgggghhhhhh......."
"Yeah, I knew it. I KNEW it! He was supposed to cross after I said my line. Jerk!"
"Okay, this part of the stage is mine. So, lucky you, you're just outside the danger zone."
????????
"Oh, great. We're already fifteen minutes past rehearsal end-time and now we've got 'Notes'. Shoot me now!"
An interesting look from behind stage right across the boards. Our extensive lighting system is revealed, as well as the longest canoe in the world. Not quite sure what Todd is doing back stage left, but we hope it has something to do with getting into character.
Down stage left, the star of the show - the 4'x5' white painting done by our set designer - looking like a misplaced flat waiting to be installed. It had more coats of paint on it than Tammy Faye, grhs.
"Hmmmph, figures. We were supposed to be off-book last week.... amateur!"
"YOU WANNA PIECE-A ME??? BRING IT ON, SUKKAHS!!!"
What's that old saying, be careful what you wish for???
This is what happens when grown men get together with nothing to eat or drink, except a bowl of olives that have been lying around on a bench backstage for a few days in the heat. Not a pretty picture.
Someone's been hitting the brandy snifter again, huh?
'"I crossed when I was supposed to. You were late with your line. AGAIN!!!'
"Is he looking at the camera again? Is he?"
"Uhhh... wellllll........."
"Sheesh, if he'd just cross after I say my line....."
"Turning your back to the audience?? And you call ME amateur????"
Good Times.
More Good Times.
Thanks to Todd, Keith and Chris for all the Good Times. We're on the lookout for 'ART - part deux'. When we find it, we'll be in touch.
Break legs,
Dave and Sue