Finster Finds

Today was the Friday of Teacher's Convention. It was so nice not to have to leave the house for anything. The boys are getting to the age that ( for the most part) they can play well together and they also appreciate a day with no running around. I had a couple of big writing and reading tasks that I needed to do and the boys played and I got to work. I completed my Post-Workshop Draft of Zachary and the Storytelling Stones for my meeting on Tuesday and I also finally got around to the second Draft of Mr. Twiddles, the script I am providing dramaturgy for as part of the Play Readings portion of the Footlights Festival. I have felt bad about the second item because my life got crazy-busy with winning the workshop for Zachary so I lost the time I thought I would have over Reading Week to get things done. I had a lot of scripts to read and that had to happen, as did the workshop and whatever work I had for school and L5Y, so unfortunately I pushed Mr. Twiddles to the back burne...

I apologized and threw up the white flag... it was thrown back in my face. I can do no more. I am going to try and salvage the day by writing about what went well. 1. Gibson had a fabulous play-date with Ethan from Fun Factory. You would think having two 4 year olds running around would be crazier than normal, but it was not. It was delightful. They played well and negotiated with each other and there were no fights or tears. 2. I received some lovely e-mails/messages from people complimenting me on what I said (my apology and taking ownership of the error). I appreciate those people. I even got one from someone I do not know, but who was reading and involved in the discussion. I really appreciate this kindness from a stranger. I also appreciate being informed, so thanks to that individual who gave me the heads up. I like tackling things head-on. I will own when I am wrong, but if I don't know about a problem I can't even attempt to apologize for it or repair it. I a...

Apparently I have stirred up a bit of a 'shitstorm' (not my word, someone else's). I forget that people might possibly read this Blog... well, I know a few who do... friends and family and the like, but I guess I assume I'm not really anybody so I don't think people outside my immediate circle of friends and family actually read this. I guess I am wrong. Overall, in the previous post I say the show is good (I looked, I say that) and that it had the potential to be tremendous . A show has a life and an evolution. I saw it Opening Night, perhaps with a few more runs the kinks would be smoothed out. Who knows? The trouble with commenting is that people only hear what they think is 'negative'. I am torn on what to do now. I like synthesizing my opinion. I may have to refrain from commenting on theatre productions in future and that concerns me as I really like this blogging thing and theatre is such a big part of my life. I don't want to be a Pollyanna and ...

Around Tuesday, I started to feel human again. Only my right hand continued to ache. By Friday, even the hand felt better. Yay! I am so glad I am not dying... This week has been crazy with my workshop (see more details on On Writing) for Zachary and the Storytelling Stones. Suffice it to say I have written around 7 drafts of the script in one week. Whew! I did manage to squeeze in (and I mean squeeze) Hamlet (at Walterdale) and Anne of Green Gables (Sherard at Festival Place). Anne of Green Gables has never been one of my favorite shows. It is a musical based on a very well-known and well-loved book, so it really has to hit the highlights of the book. As a result the story arc is not as finessed as other shows. You can't mess too much with L.M. Montgomery. That being said, I was tentative about seeing it. I have heard that Sherard shows are often uneven with compromised production values that detract from the show. However, I knew several of the cast and felt I should go. I was ...

I am still recovering from one of the worst flues that I have ever had. It started Friday with shivers and fever and a total lack of focus. I stumbled through part of the day until I couldn't anymore and then skipped out on a meeting because I really doubted my ability to drive there and home. Instead I went home and slept form 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. and still felt like crap. I woke up several times to medicate and shift and drink water. In the morning on Saturday I was not much better and I napped as I could during the day. I felt a little better on Sunday and went to Hotel For Dogs with Mark and the boys. Immediately upon returning home I fell back in bed. Not better. A long sleep and then I awake Monday morning with a bowling ball sized cold sore upon my lip. What the -?!?! I had never had one before and to be blessed with one that size through me into a tailspin which literally resulted in a 1/2 hour cry and a phone call to Mark for remedy. Since Monday I have been up and down. Fee...

That's what the last few days have felt like. Okay, the Wiggles were just on and I liked the alliteration, but the whining has been palpable in the house the last few days. However effective it is to remove the DS from Oliver as a punishment, you still have to put up with the whining when he doesn't have access to it. I am praying for a good day at school today so he earns it back and the whinging stops. Gibson has had his fair share, but that usually only happens when he is tired so I am a little more tolerant of it.

This past week I started work on The Last Five Years . I am directing my good friends, Magnolia and El Muchacho (his new title) in this wonderful 2 person musical. I had my first rehearsal with Magnolia on Tuesday and we did a nice chronological track through the script. I love this part. I love the 'mining' and the talking and sorting out what the story is all about for this character. To do this show right, you have to know the separate journeys of the two characters. If you are playing one of them, you have to feel right, even when the character makes mistakes. I can imagine people leaving this show thinking 'she was right/he was wrong' or 'she was wrong/he was right'. I want people to leave thinking they were both right and both wrong. I want no villains and no heroes. I want real people. So, we have a good time walking through. I was supposed to rehearse Thursday and found I couldn't. I was hit by something. I don't know if I caught whate...