Show # 3

Today was arguably the best show so far; the kids were RIDICULOUSLY responsive.
-When Ruby was looking for Max, "Ruby, he's behind the house!"
-When the citizens of East Bunny Hop were examining a mudpie, "Ewww!"
-When Grandma pulled out the tiara, "I have one of those at my dad's house!"
-When the Blue Tarantula came out during naptime, "Don't be scared."

It's incredible how engaged and active these kids are. We thrive on it, we eat it up. Except, of course, when it stops us in our tracks because we can't hear our cues or our own voices over "there's a spider on your head!" (in reference to the mics that were visible to the kids in the front row) or because they are screaming at the froggie poking out of Max's back pocket.

Still, these responses are the reason we're doing this. It makes the inevitable logistical mess-ups better.
And to our credit, we are adjusting the things we can. We're already infinitely better at loading the set in and out.
Yesterday went something like this:
6.30 am - Van Call
7.30 am - Load in the set, build, mic check, spike tape, costume and prop setting
We were ready for half-hour at 9.30 am, but the show didn't go on until 10.30, so we had extra time before the show to ensure that everything was properly set and to, well, wake up. No matter how you look at it, 10.30 is early to belt out a million high C's.
We ran the show to a wonderful audience and then, for the first time, actually HAD the time to take lunch before striking and load-out. Which made the rest of the day more bearable.
We loaded out and were on the road by 2.30 pm, back to NY from Maryland.
The snags we hit on the road home were missing the Delaware Memorial Bridge (thus adding a large amount of time on to the drive home), tiring out our drivers and then, ultimately, skipping the dinner break in the interest of getting home before midnight.

Nevermind that home right now, for me at least, is on whoever's couch I can crash on.
The problem with this local leg of the tour is that I'm momentarily addressless - it's not scary, but it's an inconvenience when you're trying to give someone an address to mail you something. Basic, plain logistics like that are more difficult to manage when you don't know your own zip code. The good news is that I have a lot of friends whose couches I can sleep on, and we actually hit the road soon, for an extended period of time. But more about that when it actually comes up.

For now, I'll sign off by saying the show is going well, it can only continue to get better, and if you want postcards, send me your address =)