Thought for the Day

For whom do I make theatre? Why do I make theatre? Does it matter what people think? Do you do it just to have a few people's opinion.... or do you make it to take a risk, share a thought; a feeling; an experience; an idea?

Herb Gardner, an American playwright wrote this:

God help me. I love it. Because it's alive. And because the theatre is alive, exactly what is terrible is wonderful, the gamble, the odds. 


There is no ceiling on the night and no floor either; there is a chance each time the curtain goes up of glory and disaster, the actors and the audience will take each other somewhere, neither knows where for sure. 


Alive, one time only, that night. It's alive, has been alive for a few thousand years, and is alive tonight, this afternoon. 


An audience knows it's the last place they can be heard, they know the actors can hear them, they make a difference; it's not a movie projector and they are not at home with talking furniture, it's custom work. 
Why do playwrights, why do we outsiders and oddballs who so fear misunderstanding, use a medium where we are most likely to be understood?


Because when this most private of enterprises goes public, and is responded to, we are not alone.


Home is where you can tell your secrets.


In a theatre, the ones in the dark and the ones under the lights need each other. For a few hours all of us, the audience, the actors, the writer -- we are all a little more real together than we ever were apart.
That's the ticket, and that's what the ticket's for. 

More Feedback and Critique

Audience is trickling in to the theatre as our season warms up. Here's some reviews on BLUE SURGE... Read this and this one too.

It's On!

In an effort to avoid the obvious coined phrases, (surging forward; riding the surge; surge of goodness), I will simply say: It's on.
We've opened the show and now we'll enjoy a three week season!  A warm and supportive audience of friends and family... and a few reviewers filled the Husk last night.
Check out THIS ARTICLE in The Age.

Countdown

In a week, we open BLUE SURGE. We're running the show now, and it looks like it's in a good place. I'm helping with props shopping this week, and in addition to the usual hectic production week, tech and dress rehearsals, the next two weeks look busy with radio and print interviews. Those of you who can... come along! 50 seats fill up fast...

A Good Monday

...could consist of the following:

• 6 hours of successful rehearsal. Intense watching is tiring. 
• Fresh Food. Today is the first day of a "House Health Kick" at 11 Bridge St. We're all on it!
• Best Yoga class ever this evening. I felt tall and strong as I walked home. Big bats flew overheard and possums yelled at each other in the trees. 

Cherry Blossoms

It looks like Spring is on its way....

Note to Self #25

Breathe deeply when things are touch and go. 

I may be overdrawn at the bank as I make this month's rent payment, but there are still things you can appreciate for free... Wattle Trees are blooming and they smell wonderful --- a combination of vanilla and warm earth. 

Drive In

Last weekend, I went to see some of the Melbourne International film Festival with friends. We went to a drive-in that was held in a massive shed in Docklands. It was a double bill: the new Zombie film by George A. Romero, Survival of the Dead, and a film called Down Terrace -- gritty British realism.

Benny in the driver's seat

Get a load of the venetian blinds in the back windshield of the vintage car on the right.

Very Australian!

3 Weeks to go

Rehearsals for Blue Surge have been going well and we are three weeks from opening. There are still some technical things to sort out.... like a sound designer and a stage manager would be really good! It'll happen.