I’m back and my work on the show is finished.
I’m really tired. But the experience of working with Darko and this wonderful cast of actors was so satisfying. Gems – all of them. Saturday was the first preview performance and the house was full. Oh my goodness, what a reaction! They got everything – every bit of humor, every bit of mystery (there were several audible gasps.) It was so exciting. I was sitting next to Darko and what happiness to see the joy on his face. This is his baby. As he says, he is wearing two hats – playwright/adapter and director. I think both were very proud.
There’s still work to be done as is normal in the theater. There will be preview performances at night through next Thursday. During the day, they’ll be rehearsing, fixing things, adding things, playing with lights, etc. Though Darko does sometimes ‘freeze’ a show a couple of days early. It just depends. Opening night is next Friday.
I’ve loved coaching again; working with actors, watching, noting, communicating. I love my work.
The exhausting part came from the logistics, the insane drive in New Jersey, trying to eat as cheaply as I could while staying in a hotel, that kind of thing. I’ve driven over 700 miles commuting back and forth, much of it on the Garden State Parkway, a road I will studiously avoid in the future. I have several more gray hairs because of that parkway.
So I’m tired.
But when I said goodbye to Darko, I thanked him for bringing me on board and he said “Until the next time.” So I know he’ll use me again. That makes me happy. When Darko discovers that he likes and respects you and wants to work with you again, you are gathered into his circle, his family. He is very loyal.
I don’t need to work a lot. But I do need to work.
And I can still do it.
After a year and a half of no work, I cannot tell you how satisfying this experience was.
