Letters to Holly

Friday, April 24

Almost.

Auditions are tomorrow, and I'm eager to get cranking. I worry only that I won't prepare the actors for their readings enough, and I'd be surprised if we have more than three people show up on both days. I do think it was a mistake to not list the performance time (midday!) in the press release. My theatre liaison will be there this weekend to hold my hand.

I ran for distance yesterday in a surprisingly warm evening. I think I ran about 5k in a little under 35 minutes.

Very little sleep last night, and I'm only halfway on planet earth.

Picture of the Day
The cake made for the cast during the filming of Lost's 100th episode.

Thursday, April 23

Making Notes

I got a Facebook message asking for a special audition time for someone who will be out of town this weekend. I told her I'll give her a reading after if we have too few people show up. I worked with her before, and she'll be just fine for either of the daughter roles.

I started making notes for my first rehearsal manifesto. For example, we'll handle this like a sitcom, but there will be no Urkels, Alfs, or Balkis. They're normal people. Also, we'll start low and build the energy. I once saw a production of Harvey that began with two women screaming, and they had two hours to get louder and shriller. Newly leaked memos classify that as torture.

I wish we had video of previous plays in this format so I can see how they approached it. I'd love to do this as radio theatre, but I don't know what promises were made for the play that won the competition.

Picture of the Day
The lineage of the MGM lions.

Wednesday, April 22

Wonder Women

I am a big Wonder Woman fan. You know this. I have a giant Lynda Carter poster in my workshop. I made a Wonder Woman action figure ten years ago. So when I discovered that a live-action WW show proposal was filmed scene back in the '60s, I was stunned. How did I not know this?

I saw it online yesterday. It is horrible.



It was made by the folks who gave us the fantastic '60s Batman show. While the scene is wholly appropriate for the time initially -- and even promising for a straight-forward TV adaptation -- it goes to hell once the costume is worn. It's a faithful design, but the conceit is wrong in a billion ways. Our heroine becomes a clown. I wonder if they thought such broad humor would make the show distinct from the Batshow. Batman lost its audience quick within three years. The Batgirl proposal was a more similar product, even if she was added only to salvage the ratings.




Much better. She gets to kick people in the face.

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My theatre contact made binders for the scripts, and I made more notes about line delivery. I'm eager to get this ball rolling. I need to see our performance space and jot down simple movement choreography.

Tuesday, April 21

Small Stuff

My theatre contact, um, contacted me about supplies for the audition this weekend. He'll make xeroes of the script and binders to hold them. I'll reread the play during the week and pick the best pages for the auditions.

Your Sis is doing much better, and she seemed almost eager to go back to school this week.

I'm feeling very lazy about doing no work in the garden, but we have to schedule a tiller rental before we can do anything else. Your Sis suggested we pay to join a community farm project. For $350, a family can get weeks of veggies from a local farm. I suggested we talk to another couple and split the cost and the food. She asked. They responded by starting their own garden, and I agree with that. Let's grow our own too.

Sketch of the Day
I'm back to drawing from photos to exercise the drawing muscles. BlogSpot loads images to similar sizes, leaving it up to me to tell you that the drawing is almost twice the size of the picture. This is working; when I sketch from imagination afterward, the art is much stronger.



Monday, April 20

Cooking With Villainy: Faji-tortill-orittos

The global economic crunch has hit even the Glorious Kingdom of Latveria. The peasants can no longer bequeath Doom with the tribute to which Doom has become accustomed, and they look, as always, to their beloved leader for guidance in this time of gloom. Doom takes to his resplendent balcony, beholds the gathered, desperate masses below Doom, and utters the wisdom upon which they may rest their beleaguered brows:

IT'S RICHARDS'S FAULT!

Doom told you! Doom tried to warn you! Richards Richards Richards! He has done this to you! He mocks you from the penthouse bath tub in which he soaks his boneless ass with his harlot of a wife!

This only fuels Doom's quest for vengeance! For justice! Doom is handing out Richards fatwas like they're going out of style! Doom shall destroy him in your name, my filthy troglodytes! DOOM SWEARS MAD RUCKUS IN YOUR NAMES!

But until then, Doom knows you must feed the dog, and thus, Doom cracks open once more his Divine Recipe Rolodex and bestows upon you a morsel that will warm your bellies: Doom's Famous Faji-tortill-orittos!

Gather these, mongrels:
1 pound of protein vehicle
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 medium onion
six tortillas
cayenne pepper
crushed red pepper
chili powder
garlic powder
salt
pepper
shredded cheese

Doom commands you to dice the onion and cut the peppers into thin strips. Cut the protein vehicle into strips.

Doom commands you to cook the protein vehicle in a medium-hot skillet.

Doom commands you to begin heating the tortillas in another skillet. Heat the skillet to medium, heat one side of the tortilla, flip to warm the other side. Place tortillas on a plate and cover while you warm the others.

While doing this, Doom commands you to transfer the meat to a holding vessel. Add pepper and salt to the meat. Place peppers and onions in the skillet on medium heat. Add dashes of the spices.

Doom commands you to add the meat back to the skillet once the medley has warmed. Stir often and cook until the medley has softened and the onions are golden brown.

Doom allows you to add salsa to the filled tortilla shells on top of the shredded cheese. Doom appreciates lime-flavored chips as a side item. Doom will never admit to licking the lime-dusted fingertips of his luxurious armor.

Doom commands you to wolf it down, curs. The above recipe will feed two.

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Friday night: Dinner with teacher people.

Saturday: mowing and a teacher birthday party. I got home right before 3 a.m. in my pathetic attempt to remain youthful.

Sunday: Ran 3 miles and gobbled caffeine to stay awake. Woke up in the middle of the night thanks to a thunderstorm.


Picture of the Day
Whee.