Arrrgggghhh, I'm too old for this!!

It's 11:30 PM and I'm just getting to this posting. No, I didn't have a late night rehearsal. I just worked all day, went to a music class at 5:15, went to rehearsal at 7:00, was supposed to get out early but stayed until after 8:00 (more on this later), then picked up a bite to eat and brought it back to my second job so I could
1) do a Requision for a Purchase Order (How Thrilling!) and
2) respond to a prompt for my online class.

Ahhhh, a little venting.

That feels better.

Interesting night at rehearsal. More improvs. I'm getting antsy to at least tackle a scripted scene.

Be careful what you wish for.

One of the actors had an allergic reation to a spider bite and isn't here tonight. The scenes to be worked on after the improv are major scenes he is in. Adapting is a holy word in theatre. One must adapt or die (you think I'm kidding?)

So we tackle the scene we're supposed to do tomorrow night. Off-book without even having read it in a read-through! Rough and rocky for me.

The director is giving me exact mannerisms he wants me to imitate. Once upon a time it would drive me crazy when a director directed by giving line readings. Now it's just another way of approaching the task at hand. I can't help but laugh as I watch him prance and mince in the character of Mrs. Holly. I'm tempted to say, "I know you'd love to play the role yourself. Why don't you do it in drag! You'd have a ball!" I actually think he'd be hysterical. But then, Suddenly Last Summer isn't exactly a comedy, is it. But,hey, a little humor could be welcome here.

I need to stay within the scope of the exaggerated character the director wants and making her believable. I need to trust his eye for this character. After all, he is a Southern Gentleman, and he knows the kind of woman Mrs. Holly is. He's met many like her.