December 11, 2009
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I JUST GOT BACK FROM EV’S OPENING NIGHT OF NEIL SIMON’S
RUMORS, AND I’M BLOWN AWAY!!!!!The Daily News
1 First, some background. The Show gave a special performance for staff the day before yesterday.
2 I couldn’t attend the Show because we had an English meeting run by the Show’s technical director.
3 And LAST month, the same day as Homecoming as I recall, we had a meeting in which a bunch of us decided that we were all too exhausted to even BEGIN to get any real work done.
4 Well…you lag, you pay. We had to all miss the free performance for staff.
5 I understood, and redirected my focus to all the needs of the department.
6 I came up with this awesome idea, and the departmental biz took off. Yesterday I was publicly thanked by the Department Chair, through all-users e-mail.
7 SOOOOO…somehow that all worked, and forced me to go to the REAL opening night.
8 All I can say is, “Bravissimo!”
9 Last night up at the Chill-on-the Hill, the cast and crew of Neil Simon’s Rumors gave a command performance, and my feeling right now is the feeling of having been drenched in a true work of art.
10 Sadly, at the Show I missed for the rest of the staff, word got out that there was a LOT of cussing in the Show, and many staff members were not only offended, but sent massive e-mails to all staff voicing their “disapproval” of the supposedly evident morality issue.
11 I have to think that the entire “morality” issue revolved around a few cuss words that were left in the Show.
12 I capitalize “The Show” btw for a reason.
13 To me, it remains one huge Show.
14 Here’s what I saw: I saw a brilliantly directed Show, with an excellent book, and an even more excellent cast, delivering lazers and split-second timing in one of the best works of art I’ve seen in years!
15 They had timing, goofiness, split-second movements, great costumes, precise timing, great enunciation and volume, and amazing acting! On a Thursday night, they had well over two-hundred audience members for a play directed by a student!
16 Let me tellya, the work directed by Michael Ho, the student director, was beyond reproach. The blocking was brilliant, the timing precise, and the gags perfectly timed.
17 I stood humbled in the shadow of REAL brilliance, because Michael obviously choreographed the Show with precision and perfect direction. To be honest, he clearly did a much better job than I ever did in my career, save perhaps Our Town, Godspell, and Midsummer (twice!). This kid, honestly, delivered the goods like nobody I’ve ever seen, and I include meself in that equation.
18 It was GRAND being back watching a Show that I envied. I always told my students that the mark of a GREAT Show was that the audience goes home WISHING that they were a part of it!
19 That’s how I felt in the end.
20 The Show goes up tonight, tomorrow afternoon at 12:30, and tomorrow night at 6:30 (actually 7!). Tix MAY be purchased at the door, but given the enormous crowd tonight, I have to think that this Show MAY very well sell out!
21 It absolutely took my heart away knowing that those kids must have heard all the negative stuff about the minuscule cuss words, and it must have had a bit of an effect, but last night was one of those AMAZING nights in which the audience and the performers, tech people, and directors all came together to kick major ass.
22 I LOVED it, and so if you would like to see it, it’s ten bucks, beyond fair, and it’s up at EVHS tonight and tomorrow night at 6:30.
23 I’m guessing it’ll be a sellout by today at noon, if my read on these things is accurate, but it’s worth calling the school and asking. 408.347.7000.
24 I have officially witnessed the definitive moment for Drama in this relatively new school, and I’m seeing MANY things on the horizon for that area of the Performing Arts. HUGE things, actually. Like CLO did with Cabaret all those years ago, each theatre seems to have a moment that defines the future.I felt that way when I brought a show called Silents to YB somewhere in the 1800′s!
25 Would I wish to climb on board in the future?
26 My answer is, I just might!
27 I just might.
28 More to come, but I love y’all.
29 But lemme tellya…
30 I miss it all d00ds.
31 I miss you all too!
32 AnywayZ I’ll take the high road outta here!
33 My plan is to go to the Show again tonight.
34 H-m-m-m-m-m…just might.
35 Love you, truly, and let’s here it for the playuhz!!!!
36 Peace.
~H~
