I flew home today to spend a couple of days with my family- Ian graduates from elementary school, Cassidy finishes middle school, and I didn't want to miss that. I fly back to Franklin County on Wednesday morning, and will hold a brush-up speed-through with them that evening. We perform on Thursdays, Fridays, and two shows on Saturday here, rather than the typical Fri-Sat-Sun mat.

The cast is strong and gathering strength. They are also new. And while I trust that the show will continue to reach new heights, I want to ensure their trajectory. Are they ready to handle this baby? Yes, they are doing a marvelous job. Will continued support help them handle this more strongly? Yes. it will. Which is why I've decided to stay on for an extra week. They are only just finding their power. I want to be there to help the continuum. My eyes know what to look for- including a certain fatigue that can settle in once we've gotten over the hump of the first performance. The last two weeks have meant daily rehearsals, several hours each day. I can even feel in my own body today the slump of relief, the first time in weeks when I haven't had to be anywhere, doing anything. If nothing else, I want to cheerlead everyone back into the rhythm of this show.

We opened pretty well on Wednesday night. It was the first time we actually ran through the entire show without stopping, and we did so in front of a VIP audience, with Senators, Mayors, Community Arts folks, storytellers, financial contributors, town and city council members, etc. etc. That was us starting up the engines. We made some course corrections, mainly to the end of the show which bunched up a little. We removed some of the black umbrellas from the march in the Rain song, so we could see the choreography more clearly. We solved our sound problem. Now our actors can be heard much better. And we brought in another memory voice character to explain Doc Tommy Scott's appearance at the end of the show. I'd written some lines for Tommy, but he knows his own bit by heart and was doing that. He's 91 years old, by the way, and was slinging that guitar around like a kid. AND, great as he was, we weren't quite clear why he was there when he didn't say those crucial other lines. I put the missing dialogue into the mouth of his predecessor, Old Doc Chamberlain, as a "memory voice" calling him back. We incorporated those changes Friday, hit a little turbulence on Saturday afternoon, but then we zoomed past it on that Saturday night. Saturday's show was stunning. And the Swamp Gravy cast was there to see them perform their best show to date. I only expect it to become more and more exciting. I always encourage a show to grow in it's power. not to simply maintain. Never to maintain. At the Yoder Barn, people would always tell Richard, "Oh, i wish you'd have seen our last weekend, you missed our best show". I, being there, knew it was true. Sad for Richard, that he didn't get to see it at it's sharpest, but also, as it should be. I know that same sort of thing is going to happen here. I watch them grow more powerful and confident in their performances each day. They are flying now.

They left in great position to come back to perform on Thursday. And...I know what can happen in that between time. There's a discipline to this work. They need a brush up, but not in costume with lights, and certainly not at usual pace. Speed-throughs are great for many things- it refreshes the dialogue, of course, and it also forces them to take out the pauses. As they do the speed throughs, it builds confidence that "yes, I do know these lines" and it also teaches new beats-- how certain speeches might sound should some (unneeded) dramatic pauses be removed. And also, after all of these great crowds they've been playing to (the smallest being Saturday Afternoon after graduation) they are used to being fed by applause. Lacking that, there will be a certain tendency to let down. But speeding through, having fun, letting loose, they'll drop that need for the nourishment of applause and cheers and tears of appreciation. They'll be laughing with and cheering each other on as we charge through the rehearsals at double time speed. (Except for choreography.) It's been of great benefit to the projects we work with, and who commit to this weekly speed through. It keeps people fresh, on their toes, and if there are any concerns, we don't have to wait until a few minutes before show time to address them. And, of course, I will still be here, to give notes, make any minor adjustments, and help the cast begin to look for those things that Richard and I have been reminding them of. To help them with the pattern of community performance. Doubles being by the stage while partners perform. Being mindful of dressing the set should any cast members be absent. Notice where energy is great and give praise and encouragement. Notice where energy is low- and give praise and encouragement. It's pretty easy stuff, once you're in the habit of doing it. Ahhh, I'm tired. I'm going to enjoy being home for a bit. Out for now. I'll be back with more later.