Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A view of Bryant Park on Tuesday. They already have their temporary shops up for the holidays. Seems a bit soon…

I have to tell you: we had the best time with our longtime friend, Kandis, on Tuesday. It was one of those events that surpassed expectations. Three friends reuniting and talking for hours. Don and Kandis both grew up in San Diego and have known each other since Don was 19. Kandis started out doing props for the Old Globe and eventually started acting there. She is a superb actress. Don and Kandis share a history – they started working there when the Old Globe was only Equity from May to September for the Shakespeare Festival. Then it was a community theater the rest of the year. It was an excellent community theater – run by Craig Noel, Don’s mentor and our friend, who also ran the Equity theater in the summer. Don and Kandis have seen it all. But what is most wonderful? The memories they share. I share a lot of memories with them, too, but I came along later. I’ve coached Kandis many times at the Globe, as well as at Hartford Stage. Darko loves her.

Anyway, the three of us have so many friends and colleagues in common, so many shared experiences, that we never stopped talking and laughing and remembering. Kandis and I were working together on Romeo and Julier at Hartford when Scout died. She remembered every bit of that time and teared up when she was talking about it.

Don said he ‘remembered who he was’ after our day together. Sometimes, in the midst of a long time without work, you need someone to confirm you’re good at what you do. He is an actor. Kandis saw him act in his very first role at the Old Globe. He saw Kandis in her very first role there. They aren’t stars, but they have been consistently working actors for over 50 years.

It’s hard to convey how much our time with Kandis on Tuesday meant to us. It was a blessing.

For me, I worked in NYC at the Roundabout Theater with Darko and his cast for 3 days and we saw Kandis the next day. It’s been an intense week full of what I love: theater, directors, actors, and my theater ‘family.’ There is nothing better.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

I had to dig into my photos to find something to post today. I didn’t take any NYC pictures except of Gilly and they weren’t that good. I didn’t get back until 10 pm last night and I’m really wiped out. It was an intense 36 hours or so. NYC has an energy that can be exhausting, especially if you’re schlepping a handbag and an awkward and heavy duffle bag around town. The duffle was an unfortunate choice but I thought it might be easier to stash at the theater yesterday after I checked out of the hotel. It wasn’t. My little suitcase on wheels would have been better. Live and learn.

Anyway, enough about that. I’m really, really tired and have bad sinus issues going on, and the hotel room was the smallest I’ve ever stayed in – kind of a micro room – but it had a great shower. The show is wonderful and powerful and funny and I’ll be going back in for the day tomorrow to work with a few cast members. But I’ll be back in the early evening, in time for the World Series game.

I had a little brunch with Darko yesterday before the matinee and we talked about the show and caught up on our personal lives. I adore him. He’s a wonderful guy and a brilliant director. And he’s been so kind to me.

I am wiped out!

Today, I’m going to try to do nothing. I need to rest. I’m not sure what time I have to be back at the theater tomorrow, so I’m going to check into that when I finish this post.

I’m grateful for this unexpected job that came out of the blue.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.