Th-zzzZZZzzz- huh what? Oh, Adventure

Hello. It's been a long. Long. L-o-o-o-ng week. Rehearsal Tues, Wed, Thurs night with varying spaces and furniture. w00t. I can't even really remember what happened.

Except that on Thursday night after Martha and Amy dropped me off at my building, something odd happened. I was walking to the front door, had just called Andrew to let me in, when I noticed a cop at the door. "Oh good, you can let me in," he said jovially. "Actually, I'm waiting myself." "That's ok." I heard Martha call to me, "Caitlin, do you want to come back here?" And when I turned back to say no thanks, I noticed 3 more police cars had pulled up and 6 more officers were approaching. I called Andrew again. Berry turned the corner just as the littlest woman police person was putting all of her weight into pulling on the locked glass door and the original jovial cop told her it wasn't work breaking it. They were exasperated when Berry slowed his gait in confusion. Wouldn't you be? Confused, I mean. Apparently that's the second cop call within a month. Safety.

Then... what was it... Friday night Alie and I went to see No Child at Woolly. Alie's a teacher in what must be an "interesting" part of MD, so she was ALL about this show (a one-woman show about a teaching artist at Malcolm X high school in the Bronx). After a very filling and delicious dinner at Teaism (and I heartily recommend going there)over which we discussed our past students and human nature, we headed over to Woolly.

Nilaja Sun's show was awesome. We definitely laughed a LOT. I especially loved her gurgling Bronxite who claimed to eat tastycakes for breakfast. Her physicality and facial dexterity were perfect. Each character came through beautifully, although I was confused about Jerome once or twice. It was also very moving, and wrenchingly passionate. Please go see this show, it closes Feb 17th. If you're under 25 you can get $15 tickets in advance. Otherwise it's quite a bit more.

But Sonia and Zac tell me that without stories from my life this blog is really boring (and I need to update more) then I'll share the joys of tech weekend with you. Oh joy.

After insanely staying up watching The Office with Alie and Matt until about 1 or 2 I stumbled out of bed at 6:30 to get to WSC by metro by 9am. This involved packing 2 backpacks (one for books and laptop, the other for corset and rehearsal skirt), plus my lunch bag, PLUS stopping at Einstein for another dozen bagels in a cardboard box, then attempting to board a train. I arrived at Crystal city at about 8am, seriously early. The bagel box broke in the underground... nothing spilled just the handles popped off and I had to hoist it on my mothering hip the rest of the way to Clark Street.

Once there, I thought to rest, maybe nap, but naps are impossible in a place where you can always count on a "little buddy" to pop his furry nose in where you're a-snoozin. Tech started promptly at 9. Which means it started at about when the whole cast got there around 9:30 and the designers were all set up. So near 10am we got going.

With breaks ever 2 hours or so (Amy knows better than I do) we ran the show stopping for notes from Chris, or to re-try a sound or light cue. We finished Act 1 at 2:30ish, which was half an hour before our scheduled lunch/dinner break. Marc (our board prez) brought us sandwiches and snacks because he is awesome. And we all drifted off to do our "personal time" things. Mine was to go upstairs to my very warm and cozy dressing room and watch The Tudors on my laptop (hot). We ended the day at 9 with only moments to go in Act IV. Pretty darn good!

I made it home and stumbled into bed, compiling lunch-stuffs and petting Bill to keep myself awake until Andrew got home. Didn't make it, passed out around 11:30. Andrew came home closer to 2am, and I was passed out again by the time he got in bed.

Next morning, 7am. Up and out, but just a second too late for the metro that would have gotten me there on time. Instead I got a chocolate chip bagel and waited it out at Silver Spring AND Fort Totten. Me and my 2 bookbags. This time I ran into Frank (our Judge Brack) on the yellow train and we chatted about tardiness and what shows we've seen etc. Good times. When all had gathered at Clark Street, we finished Act IV (very cue heavy, mind you) and chatted for awhile as one by one we put on our costumes and were transformed into some very romantic novelesque creatures. Sheer's the word and I don't mean sheep!

Then we ran the show. It was a rough run. Oh my yes. Rough.

Then dinner (pizza!) and some good conversation in the sunlight (I forgot it existed).

Then a speed-run, which may have been the most fun ever! My character now ONLY runs, so in a speed run... well... HA! It was my cardio. And we were done at 5:55 so GOOD TECH! Went home early enough to do the laundry, finish my book on Henry VIII while watching the Superbowl (only the last 5 minutes were interesting. And pet Bill. And shoo Bill away from my nose. I dunno, he's a bird.

This is why I love tech weekend, though. Forget that it's long-ass hours. Forget that you never see the sun. And remember that you're now bonded to the people you're working with. I love this cast. I knew I would when I was called on-board, and Iwas so right.

PS: Forum just asked me to audition for Marat/Sade!!!!!!!!!!!! Mellow out, CSmith, mellow out...