Shows # 7 & 8

Why, what on earth could that set behind Leigh be? Oh, it's the set they expected us to perform around/in front of, rather than clearing off the stage. Yes, you read that right. We went to this community college to perform two sold-out performances and they didn't even clear the stage for us. But we weren't frustrated! We were delighted and challenged! Yes!

Actually, I make it sound like a much bigger deal than it was. At this point, we've probably run the gamit (sp?) of sizes that we will encounter; we've encountered everything from too big to too small to just right (goldilocks, anyone) and this space, ultimately, was fine. We had to push the other production's set back into the wings and get a little creative with our downstage space, but it worked out ok.

Plus, we found swords in the dressing room:


There are about twelve more variations of this photograph, but really, who needs to see them all.


What else, what else. Oh! So, we did two shows back to back (as is our wont), struck and loaded out our set and then drove off into the sunset looking for a place - any place, really - where we could get ourselves some dinner.
So we pulled into a promising looking Mexican restaurant, only to be turned away for not having reservations. So, with tears in our eyes, we set off into the still-setting sun and continued our quest for dinner and found a TGI Friday's. Not the best, but it will do when you're starved and tired. We arrived, parked the vans (an arduous activity, let me assure you) and marched in only to be told there was a 90 minute wait. So, once again, with tears in our eyes we drove off into the dusk (yes, the sun had set by now) and found ourselves a Panera. I shouldn't complain, Panera has decent food. Plus we had enough extra time after eating to go peruse the selection at Barnes & Noble across the way. That being said, I think I left the book I bought in the van, where it does me no good whatsoever on this fine day off.

In other news, I sort of pulled something in my lower back during build for these two shows, which made some of the bending over/lifting and myriad other physical activities somewhat more difficult than usual, but I think by tomorrow everything will be fine again.

Speaking of tomorrow, we have a 10.45 am van call (ah, how civilised) and the ensuing drive to New London, CT, where we have two performances on Tuesday.



On an unrelated note, at the end of our previous day off (last Friday), we took an unexpected detour through Philly (don't ask). This is what Philly looks like at night, when it's raining and your camera has no flash: