Update on the Insane (VI)

Um...hi. Remember me? I know, I know. Bad poster.

Honestly there really hasn't been much to talk about. Rehearsals continue, the show gets better. My real worry is that we're already solid. I've noticed that in order to keep things interesting we're playing things up a bit, mostly the laughs. We talked about it and agreed that needed to stop. We had a six day break and then had three nights in a row of rehearsals last week and a lot of us (i.e. ME) felt totally out of gas. Thankfully this week it's come back with a ton of energy. We also aren't in the actual performance space, and set or no, that helps.

One of the great things about this performance is the sense of freedom that comes with it. Every director has their own sense of leadership, and ours really lets us make our own decisions. He only changes things when they aren't working, and doesn't really get too picky about it. Our real sense of checks and balances has been each other. As a cast we're continually having open discussions about character, how the scenes should work, how to adjust things. The great thing about this respect everyone has is when the advice come out of the blue. Someone who isn't even on stage for some scenes will approach me and offer adjustments, and they'll be totally right.

Also, with the huge mouth and fierce opinions I have, everyone is blessedly patient with it. When we've stopped and talked about things as a group I can find myself rambling on. I look over at the director and tell him to shut me up whenever. Usually he nods and tells me to get it out.

My big focus the last couple days is thinking of everyone I know and convincing them to come to this darn show. I've handed out posters, emailed, done the myspace (gag) thing, called, and begged. The group would like to see an attendance of 400 over the four shows. They read the numbers of the last half dozen non-musicals they've done. Never got over 230. Funny, you can't swing a dead cat in Western Mass without hitting a local theater group, but where's the audience? For some reason local papers won't review local productions, I guess there was bad mojo about negative reviews and nasty letters back and forth ten years ago, so it all stopped. So I am whoring myself to get people to this thing.

Update on the Insane (V)

Yeah, I never made a (IV) in the last post about the show. Sue me.


So as I always do when preparing for a show I scour the internet for information about other productions, I found some stuff on "Cuckoo's Nest."


Note: Some people will not watch a movie, another production, look at pictures, or hear stories about other productions of a show once they start doing it. They feel it will affect their interpretation, and don't want to be accused of "copying" another version, or they feel it will alter their 'vision.'


Happily, I have no such qualms. In fact, when I hear someone talk about their 'vision' my brain instantly goes somewhere else, like how long until I need my next oil change. If you want inspiration, go get it. If you think you're copying someone, stop. It's not like you're going to build the crazy bridge/junk thing in Les Mis and suddenly wonder where you got the inspiration from.


I haven't found much. I was looking for clips of other productions, and mostly got a couple high school versions that were played for laughs. I can reject those outright. There was a great piece on Charlie Rose with Gary Sinise that has a couple scenes but the sound is so choppy it's unwatchable.


I DID find this. I guess I've never looked at it quite that way before. I can't say I agree that was the intent, I mean Ken Kesey was so f*cked on LSD he probably had very little idea what he writing period. But I'm willing to concede the point, if you look at it from that direction.


Thankfully, most of the time, I don't.


I've been told by more than one person that the link doesn't show where the theater itself is. Try here.

Some Fun Things to Look At

A couple things I've seen floating around the internets lately. I was recently reminded of them on zefrank's site.

I've seen this twice. It's funny AND scary at the same time.

And if you ever need to know what the pinnacle of being awesome actually is, watch this clip.

Other stuff I've found that makes me happy...Webcomics. I don't read too many, chrissakes it takes me too much time catching up on blogs (I'm still catching up on some new ones) so here are my two favorites.

Questionable Content. Do I like it because it's set in my town? Yes. I actually recognize the bars and locales in the comic. But mostly I like it because it's hiLARious. Read from the beginning.

Penny Arcade. Balls out funny. If you're a gamer. If you haven't sacrificed GPA to playing Warcraft (the original) or lost two days playing Metal Gear Solid or lost a MONTH playing Neverwinter Nights, this might not be to your taste. It is to mine.

I Can't Eat that Much Rice

Another night of rehearsal. Another night when I look around and wonder how I got so lucky.

Not only am I doing a show that's a favorite of...well, just about anyone who knows it, and doing the part that speaks to me, but I get to do it witht the most wonderful group of actors. I couldn't have dreamt up such a great cast.

What amazes me time and again is the quiet competence each person brings each night. There's no histrionics, no drama, just a simple working of each scene. A tweak here and there. A "Hey, I got an idea.." What's remarkable is that everyone listens to it, and everyone usually accepts it and adjusts accordingly. Our director seems to understand that he pretty much can let us figure most of it out, and only needs to jump in when it's not reading off stage. I was talking to the costume lady and watching the business on stage and realized how much was going on that I truly CAN'T be aware of. No one ever stops. No one stands, waiting for their next piece of business.

I already know this show will be incredible. How did I get so lucky?

If you're in the area (western Mass) you should come. If you're near the area, you should come. If you're way out of the area, I'll buy you a drink if you make it. Don't come for me. Come for the whole thing.

You can find the partic'lars here.