plumtreeblossom | Opening Night

...and they all lived happily ever after. At least for the first performance. :-)

It all went without a hitch, for one Mistress Quickly. I was feeling more centered than I expected to. I took the day off from work, as is my usual custom for opening nights (having my weekly therapy session that morning didn't hurt, either). I spent the day baking cookies for the concession stand and listening to Death Cab for Cutie (the album Plans is the most beautiful album I've heard in years). I did my makeup at home rather than juggle with 25 other actors for mirror time. My makeup for this part includes angular bow-shaped red lips influenced by comedia del arte, which have been successfully cracking people up.

My friend Christine was there in the audience, with a lovely bouquet for me. I hadn't known I had any friends coming, so it was a wonderful surprise to see her. The performance went well for all, and afterwards we migrated to Jude and Rob's for an impromptu bacchanal. Not having an orange, we made a cloven apple. :-)

I was partially satisfied with my performance, but I feel I can give a better one. Last night's was solid in lines and blocking, but the camp needs to come though more, and I need to really feel her giddy pleasure. I'm finding that fresh ad lib physical schtick gets laughs no matter what it is. I threw in a simple hair primp and it got a laugh, while a few of my punchiest punch lines didn't. Well, I've got 5 more shows to take it where it's going to go.