February 26, 2014
Good Morning Folks!
During the pre-dawn hours, the blog I wrote for yesterday was mistakenly erased into the Ethernet and I’m sitting here in RENT rehearsal this afternoon writing to you while Katie Spelman choreographs a dance entitled “Contact.” It’s about physical connection. Sex. There is more to it than that, but I don’t want to spoil it for you so moving on…
These rehearsals are emotion-filled, laughing one minute, crying the next. Sung-through scenes ignite vocal fireworks. An outrageous comic turn lights up the space. Then an episode with the AIDS Support Group or in the hospital completely shuts us down. This morning the air is sucked out of the room. Everything stops. A dead stillness. A choke. An actor leaves the room. Another follows. In the next room, the kitchen, I find them in each other’s arms broken down to their knees, sobbing. The gesture of carrying the dying lover’s body somehow hits home. I don’t know how exactly but there is a history here with this for him. Respectful, stunned, in silence, everyone stands by. And then we are back at work. But we are changed. I don’t think we’ll ever be quite the same again.
That will have to do for this week’s chapter behind the scenes. And by the way, every time I’ve looked up from writing this, Katie’s choreography is looking quite remarkable already!
One more thing: thank you for the coffee, Mrs. Spelman!
Love and thanks, Dear Reader
Jim
