Cartoon Diary, Day 015

Thursday night was improv rehearsal with Out of Order. Since I'm directing the next show, it was up to me to run rehearsal. It started less smoothly than I would have liked. A carpooling mixup made me arrive 20 minutes later than I was planning, one actor called out sick, the temperature inside the theatre was 80 degrees, and the night was half over before we figured out the new air conditioning system. All of this combined to make me feel like a stammering, unprepared idiot.

But I think we turned it around. I think my nerves were more in my head than anything else and I gradually started to find my footing. I raided the refrigerator to get us all water, we worked out some new games for the show, and I think everybody ended up having fun. And everyone was nice enough to stay a little late without complaint, for which I'm very grateful.

So... next week's rehearsal will be even better! Onward and upward!

Out of Order's next show is at the Dover Little Theatre Saturday, June 28th. Tickets $10. Call (973)328-9202 for reservations.

Cartoon Diary, Day 007

The contrast between these two moments above was what really got me. This person & I were talking about how the community theatre world can be close-knit to the point of being incestuous. You meet someone who's been in a show with someone who's dated someone who's cheated on that someone with the first someone. So it's a good idea to watch what you say, and to whom.

Of course, not more than one minute later, this guy starts talking about one of the actors in his current show & the stuff this actor is doing wrong. I'm not really trying to come down on my theatre acquaintance -- it's a natural human impulse. I just thought it was funny.

I should also point out that I'm essentially doing the same thing by making a cartoon about this guy, so I'm just as guilty as him.

Hmmm... my cartoon about this person's hypocracy is also pointing out my own hypocracy. This post is getting so Meta...