The Couch Cracked but Still it was Ideal

I am in An Ideal Husband in Provo. Opening night, the very authentic antique couch broke. Under my butt. I stood up, said, "I'm sorry, Gertrude. I'll just stand for this visit."
I've had nightmares about this moment ever since.

I just read a review of the show and it turns out that moment was the reviewer's favorite.

Who would have thought it?

Lesson learned? As one friend told me, think on your feet.

So very true!

Musings about a weekend filled with theater

For the last few weeks, I’ve been rehearsing for a 10-minute play. It was a cute play. I played a nurse. Her name? Nurse. It was the story of man, Tom, a young woman, named Young Woman, and me. Nurse. It takes place in a hospital room, and there is comedy, drama, laughter, tenderness, me in pediatrician office scrubs, armed with a bedpan. Oh yes.

My fellow actors had to look up what a bedpan is. That’s how much older I am than they are.

The rehearsal process was hard. Isn’t it always? But we were ready on opening night. I was only slightly nervous. Then I found out it was a competition. A what? I have to like, be great in this play – greater than the other actors in the other plays? Ig. And then I found out the playwright of the piece is James Arrington, who may be one of the biggest names in Utah theater. Ig times infinity.

Added to that, I was reviewing the first half of the show – the half I wasn’t in. My son, Caden, reviewed the second half. Consequently, our little playlet never got a review at all. The sacrifices I make (back of hand on forehead) for my art!

The shows I saw were all interesting. It is amazing to see what can be packed into ten minutes. It’s like taking a perfect piece of cheesecake and savoring every bite. You don’t need any more than that one piece. Usually…

The performances went well, but we didn’t win, and I didn’t expect to. Our play was cute but some of them were either poignant, thought-provoking, creepy, sweet and sad, or hilarious. Ours was in the middle. We did have a kiss, though. Just not with the Nurse.

I reviewed a show the next night. I went by myself, which was my first mistake. I don’t really like watching things, and especially reviewing shows, by myself. I like to be able to discuss stuff afterwards.

So I go, and I know the theater because I've done a show there, but I got there a half-hour early and I’m thinking, now what do I do for a half-hour? So I go get a drink and play on my Android phone until it’s time. Except that it opens 15 minutes late. And there are about eight of us in the theater. I hate small crowds. I feel like I have to be the laughter cheerleader.

The show was okay but I gave it a better review as it was closing the next night. It’s not like anything I said would impact the players and challenge them to do better.

Things I learned:

• ·         Don’t go to shows alone. 
• ·         Check the time you need to be there. 
• ·         Don’t go tired. 
• ·         Don’t go if at all possible when you’ve reviewed something the night before that is amazingly, terrifically awesome. 
• ·         If any or all of those can’t be helped, eat chocolate before I review.

Being a theater reviewer is fun. But I could easily burn out. I need to realize that I have a life and need to take this one show, or one chocolate bar, at a time.

Reviewing life, one scene at a time….   Jennifer Mustoe, actress and reviewer – not always in that order.