I have just experienced ten days like no other, filled with great joy and discovery, suprises, stress, laughter, tears, astonishment, and a million other specific and unique emotions that will never exist twice in my life.
I am sitting in Natasha's quiet, colorful Philadelphia flat, attempting to take stock of it all. The Friday before last began a rehearsal, tech and performance process like no other. Two nights ago, we closed our run of Acts of Sedition at Society Hill Playhouse at the Philly Fringe.
This was my first fringe, and the first time I have attempted to help organize something of this scale. 11 actors from 4 different states, 14 pieces written and directed by a group of wonderful friends. We arrived in Philly last Monday and began tech the next day.
Techs are not much fun, generally, but we were fueled by exhilaration and fear in equal measure. Despite a few difficulties, and the fact that our opening night was our first real full run through with every cast member and every sound/video/light cue, we did manage to construct a pretty cohesive show over those long distances. Our audience, our confidence, and our work grew larger and stronger each night. There were a few foibles along the road, but not nearly as many as would be expected. Our audiences reacted and laughed to different things each night, which was incredibly interesting. And the general feeling is that this is a show we just might want to do again. Which is a nice feeling to have.
In addition to putting Acts up, we were able to see other Fringe shows and Philadelphia attractions. As productions went, I most enjoyed Fat Boy, a modernized Ubu Roi I saw yesterday at the Plays and Players Theatre. Tash's friend Joshus did the sound and it, along with the rest of the show, was just fantastic. Ballsy and funny, even with one of the actors injured and performing from a wheelchair.
Attraction wise, Adriana, Gabe, David and I spent 5.5 hours at the Franklin Science Museum at the Tutankhamen exhibit. Although the actual mummy wasn't along for the ride, I found myself face to face with objects I had only ever seen in books and never thought I would have a chance to be so close to. I am so grateful, and still convinced there was more than a bit of alien assistance with those pyramids and the rites and rituals. So yeah, everything but the Tut. Loved it all.
Gabe and I saw the underwhelming Liberty Bell and meandered charming sidestreets that look quite European with their painted shutters and wrought iron details, a slew of us went to a Medical oddity museum that I was the first one out of. It was the 6 inch long horn tumor growing from a French washerwoman's forehead that did it for me, I believe. Wugga. I had a Dunkin' Donuts experience as follows:
Surly Counter Person #1: What ya want?
Me: Uh... a medium hot chocolate and a lemon-
Surly Counter Person #1: You want a what?
Me: A medium hot chocolate and a-
Surly Conter Person #1 : A medium hot chocolate and a what?
Me: A lemon jelly donut and a glazed-
Surly Counter Person #1: (as Surly Counter Person #2 begins to bag my donuts) Nu-uh. No no no. There's lemon, and then there's jelly. Ain't no such thing as a lemon jelly donut.
Me: Ok, a lemon donut and a glazed-
Surly Conter Person #1 (to #2) How many donuts in that bag?
Surly Conter Person #2: Three.
Me: No, I only want two. A lemon and a glazed, ok?
Surly Conter Person #2: (Gleefully) You said "JELLY"! (The two counter people smirk at me for my jelly ignorance.)
Me: Ok, sorry. No jelly. Just a lemon and a glazed.
At this point, our conversation is ceased by the entrance of a Jersey woman, who carries a cup in front of her as is it is a very offensive object. She is pregnant. She storms the counter.
Jersey Woman: It tastes Burnt.
Surly Counter Person #3: What is it?
Jersey Woman: It Tastes Burnt.
Surly Counter Person #3: What IS it?
Jersey Woman: It Tastes Burnt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Surly Counter Person #3: What IS it?
Jersey Woman: It's coffee.
Surly Conter Person #3: That's what I was axing you!
Jersey Woman: You don't need to get all-
Surly Counter Person #4: No, you need to tell us what it IS.
Surly Counter Person #2: Yeah, she don't know what's in your cup. Could be anything.
Jersey Woman: Well, it's coffee and it tastes Burnt.
Surly Counter Person #4: Well, that's all you had to say now, isn't it?
They give her fresh coffee, which apparently does not taste Burnt. I get my order. The Jersey Woman and I roll our eyes at each other. The end.
Gotta love it.
There were many other highlights, including meeting Mike's new ladylove, people watching at the local diner and bar, and multiple giant tables of feasting, drinking friends. Many nights raged until until 5 AM. David gave me a new song to obsess about, Burn Back's "Make the Logo Bigger." I recommend it highly. Last night, Gabe showed me the Steve McQueen/Ali McGraw Peckinpah classic, "The Getaway". Now that's what I call a movie. I met Tasha's dad and he gave me a touching gift that makes me cry. Adriana bestowed a piece of Camilla's jewelry on me that I will treasure forever. I received the gift of great talks with old friends, too.
In short, I have everything I could possibly want within my web and I have been reminded of that most profoundly this week. My gratitude is giant, and my hope is alive.
There's so much more to say on all of it, but for now, I am going to go have my last Geno's cheesesteak and pass out again. Tomorrow I go back to La La Land, and life starts over in many ways...
G'nite.

Recent Comments