Tuesday

It's hot. I went to the beach but I can't stand stopping so I just walked back until the heat got to me. I am having dinner with a friend and want to be awake.

I got rejected as a "Straight Choice" in the Georgia Straight. I got a dignified, straight-forward answer to my query: "You don’t have an established rep as a theatre artist, and there’s a lot of competition for those Straight Choices slots.  Because of those factors, I won’t be pitching your show for a Straight Choice."

Monday: Day Off

I did no memorizing on Monday. I walked for a bit and had lunch with friend, Cathy, then more meandering and a lazy evening at home. Today, I have to learn a new scene nine. I re-wrote it and it is much better and I have to memorize a new bit for scene three.

The new bit in scene nine is three short simple sentences that add unbelievably to the show. I am fabulously happy with them and it is feelings like this, over things like this, that tell me more than anything: I am a writer.

The huckleberries are out in May! They are unusually late June edibles. And look at these Iris and Lupin, two extraordinary flowers. Iris are so shot and flowing like fine, fine silk and Lupins are so incredibly structural. Imagine a garden of Lupins, Laburnum and Wisteria… all that structure.

David X Five

2016 Play : Draft Poster #2

I did this design for my next year's play first. Today, I did this one for a break from memorizing lines for this year's play. I am  searching for something that feels "right." This one comes closer than my first.

Presentation House's Promo Video for My Show

Meeting & Fitting David

Basils' costume and wig fit perfectly.

Sterling's wig also fit excellently. Not bad considering
I made these things months ago and only met David for
the first time today.

I love this "sad clown" photo of David in
Sterling's collar and jerkin. 

Why Write Plays?

Why am I doing the Trudeau show? Why am I so keen to do Harridan and Silent Night? Why do I put myself through all this stress and doubt?

1. Ego need? Do I do it for the glory? Can I answer that question? I hate the curtain calls and going into the lobby after the show so I am not certain I am in it for the glory. This year, I find myself wishing I was not on stage; I have a been there done that feeling about it. The item on my bucket list is already ticked. I am not an actor.
2. I sometimes think of being creative as a compulsion. The first thing I do (and want to do) every day is to write. I love making things; that includes writing.
3. We all talk about what we do, so we have to do things to talk about. I love to talk with friends, so doing interesting things, I think, makes me a more interesting person to be around.
4. Doing projects links me to other people. I think having projects may double the amount of time I spend in the company of others.
5. One of the truest things about me is my passion for theatre. I started putting on plays when I was four; our garage was my theatre. When I am with theatre people I definitely feel myself to be amongst “my” people.
6. I feel more attracted to making costumes and more confident as a costumer than I do as a writer. Harridan was created as an “excuse” to make more and more elaborate costumes. 

      One thing I know from writing this post is that the joy in making the costumes is two-fold: I love making them. I love the sourcing of materials, the sewing that fills up so many hours and I truly love the  gratification that comes from seeing the costume come together. And I love how they have almost stupefied everyone who sees them. People look at me differently. I don't think I have ever done anything to provoke such resect. Feeling that pride and respect is addictive. Perhaps that is why I do this.