"My muse, as always, is Aphrodite." "Aphrodite Baggett, who does it behind the Dog and Crumpet? "

Tonight, we open "Dracula" - my first sudo-Equity show (I am now a member of the union, but not recognized as such in this show, since I was not a member when I was cast...) with Sierra Rep in Sonora, CA.

The rehearsal time has been short, the nights have been long. The tech has been crazy and as Philip Henslowe says "The natural condition (of the theatre business) is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster." And how we ever make it to opening a show... well, that's a mystery.

But here we are. And I am so happy.

These past two weeks have been some of the best times of my life thus far - waking to only have to head over to the theatre (well, and the gym too, but I like going there), not having to put on a "doctor's coat" and serve hamburgers to people, getting my Equity card, meeting and working with actors who have traveled the country doing what I want to do. Ted, who plays Van Helsing, has worked with some of the best theatres around the country, playing Bottom with the California Shakespeare Festival and even did School for Scandal with Brian Bedford at the Forum in LA - the year after I saw Bedford in the play at Stratford. Simply great.

This whole experience has been amazing. The past two nights we have been in previews. Last night was a PTA group, which took a moment or so to warm up to us, but after they did they seemed to have the time of their lives with the show and then night before that the Fiddler cast (which is the other show Sierra is doing right now) came to see the show during our "Friends and Family" night. They too loved the show - laughed and gasped - it was such a thrill to have an audience and to have them eating out of the palm of our hand.

Tonight should be a thrill. There is an opening night "Gala" at the local pub after the show, and we are playing to an almost sold-out house (here is hoping that is sells all the way tonight!) or so I'm told.

I'm excited for the show to open - to hear the people react, to play off them. I love working in the theatre - there is truly no thrill like getting an audience on board with you and riding that wave for two hours. It is no wonder to me that thousands of years after Thespis of Icaria first stepped from the chorus, theatre still has the passion and energy that drives people from their homes to join together in this amazing, communal experience.

J.

As a sidebar: The car working again and passed the smog test.

More misadventures…

So, my car is still not working – or rather isn’t working well enough to pass the Smog test…

Three days of this, three long days… and tomorrow will be the fourth and final day of adventures in Modesto, one way or another. I am bringing the car back to this “mechanic” (I use that word loosely since this guy doesn’t seem to be able to actually fix my car) and see if he can work his magic so I can pass my Smog test… if not, then I shall be coming back to LA for the three day break that I have after our opening weekend so it can be done then… ugh… cars… Goal of 2009: Buy a new car

Rehearsal, however, has been going great. We are painting with big, bold colors in this show and I am having a blast working on it. Tonight, and the night past, we have been working in the sound cues – for those of you who did “Dracula” with me at Stritch – this show has twice the sound cues… which is hard to believe because that show seemed like every moment had music or something under it – well in this show, literally every moment has one or more sound cues under it – so there is a ton of start and stop, setting of levels and the like. The day time rehearsals, where it is just time to have fun and act, I’m having a blast with. This character is a great deal of fun, and Dennis wants a lot more out of him then I first thought he was going to let me do. I felt like he was a "function oriented" role to begin with, but that is not at all how he wants him played, which is great and giving me a great deal of room to make him as odd as I want to – not sure that most of the oddness will stay when all is said and done, but it is fun to play with him, no doubt!

I am very excited and surprised that we open already next week – the time is going by so fast, as my second week is half over. I guess time does truly fly when you’re having fun – and so far, this has been an amazing blast.I managed to post some pictures of Van Helsing, Dracula, Renfield and Mina on my facebook page, so make sure to check those out!

Gotta get back to the Cue to Cue, as my break is almost over – but I shall update again soon about the show and about the status of my car!

Till then,

J.

(As of posting this, I am back at the shop - having one more go with getting the O2 sensor fixed - I now know why the %^&* it wasn't working before, because the guy, to say himself money, kept putting a used on in... now he is putting a brand new one in, and that should fix the problem... I hope... Oh man, do I hope...)