Sterling Comes Together

Sterling's Wig

What a great way to finish over 700 hours of work—well, almost finish.

I have always imagined Sterling (my foppier-than-me alter ego) wearing a hat and having long curly hair, so this morning, having sewn two hat forms together, I decided to take a crack at the hair. My plan was just to test some materials to see what kind of paper I might use.

Then, when I tried the wrapping paper I bought for the vests, it was PERFECT! SO I did his hair and I shouldn't have. I should have done the hat first but I have been impulsive since childhood.  Now I will have a bit of a challenge to finish the hat. But who cares. I can look at that stunning hair if ever I feel poorly.

I have Sterling's hat to finish and Vivicean's hem to do.

Allan really wants to do the show but he has to talk again to his doctor. We have an actor on stand by in case Allan cannot do the show or we do not want him to because he cannot walk properly, but everyone wants Allan in the show—especially Allan.

Once I know who is in, I can do the fittings of all his costumes and then I will be truly finished. But I am very close and what remains is slight.

Finishing Up

All my "kids" are piled in the corner of my living room. I wanted to see how I could reduce their collective footprint and protect them for the night I have my party. I have, already, fifty positive RSVPs and so I need to create lots of open space.

I have one wig left to do, the hemming of Vivicean's dress and a crimp on her waist and Basil's and Sterling's costumes both have to be fitted to Allan or the actor who replaces him.

At our production meeting yesterday, Allan called in his desire to stay with my show if at all possible. He is seeing his doctor today.

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I am very excited about seeing Warren today.  Emotionally speaking for me—having a partner is not terribly dissimilar to having a boyfriend.

Rich, Wonderful Thursday

Wow! What a day!

First of all, Warren sent emails and called. Warren, dear reader, is my writing partner when I am writing about my own life. He is my life dramaturge and he is my partner in the stage and screen version of Uncle Gus' Monkey. Tomorrow he is coming by with edits to the stage play.

This news thrills me because it increases the likelihood of our script getting produced at the Arts Club. And that would be the greatest/proudest achievement of my life because the Arts Club is my spiritual home. It is where my theatre training occurred and where I experienced my first feeling of belonging to a family. It is a sacred place.

Then we got an email from Brad, the producer at Shavick who took an interest in the Uncle Gus screenplay. Our option agreement is actually being written by their Business/Legal staff. Brad wrote: "The development team have all read it and like it.  Concerns about the budget and some other things but all can be fixed in time."

Then I had lunch with Wendy, with whom I went to high school and was a member of our municipal boys and girls band. I did not know until very recently that she had been adopted and failed to bond as I did and we had a teary lunch. This writer gained new imagery for future work from her. Boy, it was emotional and wonderful. I have a new friend, but she lives in Victoria.

Then I took a nap and when I wrote, I wrote to a woman I know who runs the theatre program at Capilano College. It is a department where I once taught. Kim, the artistic director at Presentation House, wants to build ties with his community and that fits with my plans for The Harridan, my play for Presentation House's 2015/1 season.

If Gillian, at Cap, finds my proposal to work with some of her students for credits or in an apprenticeship relationship, I can write for a large cast and Actors' Equity allows for work with students in accredited post-seondary programs.

Then I started writing Harridan. That is really something to me. My fourth script in two years and already two are produced or in production and the third just got closer to success with Warren's help that comes tomorrow. Life is good.

Living a blessed Life

Over-the-top Fop, Sterling Christopher, a comic character. 

We had a production meeting about the set for Trudeau today, and I took along a précis of a new script I call The Harridan. It may have God as the central character—this God being a stand-up comic on his Second Coming tour—and I pitched it to Kim to be part of his 2015/2016 season and he said: "Yes!"

When I pitched my idea to Kim, he was cautiously encouraging but careful not to commit. Slowly, I started pushing; I pointed out the many reasons he should say yes in a way I have never had the confidence to do. I believe I can do it. I believe I have a great idea and that I can tell it in an interesting way.

Knock Knock was a musical. Uncle Gus' Monkey is a straight play, Trudeau is fantastical and my costumes and wigs put much more of my imagination on the stage. Harridan will take me somewhere new as well. And look at that: four plays in two years.

Reminder

I love writing in rhyme. And I love using my sense of humour, so I indulged myself in making a reminder for my party to send to everyone who sent a positive RSVP.

Book of Mormon

Last night I went to see the touring production of Book of Mormon. It is always a risk to see these touring shows—you have to do your due diligence to ensure you see a professional production because there are non-union touring companies making the rounds with very amateur production values. But this show shines. And that is saying something because I have been listening to the Broadway cast recording since last summer.

And when you are as familiar with the original soundtrack as I am with Mormon, you risk having any regional or touring productions fall far short of the mark—particularly in key roles. But last night I could not keep my eyes off A. J. Hughes as Elder Cunningham whenever he was onstage. He is a genius comedic performer as you must be in that role.

And Alexandra Ncube as Nabulungi was breathtaking. Her voice is exquisite and when she sang Salt Lake City, she had 2,800 people in the palm of her hand.

It is a remarkable show in that the authors are famous for a television show called South Park. I have never seen it but it is famously edgy and probably has the same no-holes-barred take on things that Mormon has. So there were many fans of that show in the audience who, I suspect, have little experience with musicals.