Well, dear readers, preview two was better than preview one – most of the sound issues were fine, but still a couple to work out. Show ran exactly the same length as preview one – 101 minutes sans intermission. It’s definitely four minutes longer than it need be, and that’s happening within two sequences, so I’ve given specific notes where that pace needs to sharpen. We had about twenty-five people and we did get them laughing pretty quickly. The first scene, which follows the opening number, is VERY tricky tonally – they got the first two laughs and that was great, but then they lost a big one because the timing was so off, and that hurt what followed it. It’s an easy adjustment, though. There’s a scene in a bar with our three leads, and that’s the one that’s been too long and too sloppy – so we talked through that and they’ll pick it up and we’ll gain back the three minutes we’re adding to that scene. All the musical numbers worked well, the lighting is lovely, the set works great, and I’m hoping audiences catch on to the dark humor – that’s the key to the show. Serious issues presented in the form of a musical comedy – but dark humor. Anyway, our author was pleased and that’s the most important thing to me. I think some will find the play a little weird, but I’m all for weird and for things that make people think – and laugh at some of life’s absurdities. Prior to that, I got eight hours of sleep, I answered a ton of e-mails, wrote a new page, had a Togo’s pastrami sandwich for food, took pills, wrote another half a page, dozed off for about twenty minutes, showered, then at five-twenty I moseyed on over to the theater. We warmed up, I put in two tiny changes of blocking, both of which worked really well, and then we did our show. There were quite a few members of Theatre West there, including the lovely and talented Elayne Heilveil, who came up as an actor when I did – in fact, we both were in the TV movie of If I Had a Million – she was in a different segment than I was. After the show, I gave my last few notes that I’ve already mentioned, then stopped at a 7-Eleven and got some chips for a snack, came home, ate them and took pill three, and here we are, late as usual.

Today, I’ll try to be up by ten, I’ll futz and finesse and try to write at least two or three pages, then I have to write about sixteen opening night cards, so that will take some time. Still in need of a modern major miracle, although am told one might be coming, I’ll relax, shave and shower, and then mosey on over to the theater around six-fifteen, pass out the notes, then just hang out. I think we’re currently getting close to seventy-five or eighty for the audience, but I’m still hoping for more, and then we have our opening night, which is followed by a partay in the green room and outside patio. I will, of course, have a full report for you.

Tomorrow, I will damn well buckle down, Winsocki and write at least seven to ten pages. Then I’ll attend our performance and hope we have more people than who are currently on the books, then Sunday I’ll be at the matinee and talkback, and after that we’re going out for a bite to eat. Then next week I really catch up on the writing and Muse Margaret will definitely get the first 100 pages and I have no idea if she’ll like them or not, although she did like the central plot idea, so I’m hopeful.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by ten, futz and finesse, write a couple of new pages, eat something light, write about sixteen opening night cards, hopefully get a fully functioning modern major miracle, relax, shave and shower, mosey on over to the theater, pass out opening night cards, have an opening night, attend the after-partay, and then come home. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday, what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray/streaming player? I’ll start – nothing. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that preview two was better than preview one.