Grinder's Grumblings

The summer of changing plans continues - if last year was all about the art of the possible when it came to my Ennotville shows, this year it's all about the art of the limitations. I know, I promised myself (and you) that from now on I was making theatre without limits. And I tried. But the thing about limits is that they're not all self-imposed. There are physical, structural, mathematical barriers in place that inhibit my ability to make limitless theatre.  So therefore, it is with a very heavy heart that I've been forced to cancel the second week of shows this summer at the Library, because I simply don't have the time, the money, or the actors that I need in order to pull it off.  My first week of shows remains unaffected - in fact rehearsals are going great...  ...even if some of the plays are coming into focus a little better than others... but as much as I wanted to do the second week of shows there's just no way that I can make them happen. I had attempted ...

  The rehearsal raccoon is back. Our old nemesis is helping himself to the garbage cans, opening the securely-fastened compost bin, and licking his lips as he peers into the pen of three week old chickens. So far the stellar acting (and the ever-on-guard cats) have kept him far enough away from rehearsals to be no more than a minor distraction, yet he remains, lurking in the background, ever-ready to throw a wrench into our methodical, carefully-timed plans.  It's been an excellent run of rehearsals to date, all furry critters considered. The cast are coming together well, and the five shows are starting to take on a life of their own, beyond simply what's written on the page, and it means that the actors are finding meaning in (and taking ownership of) their characters. I can hardly wait to see what they look like once the lines are down.  I, unfortunately (or fortunately?), have been the weak link so far. I've been fighting a bitter cold for most of the past week, and i...

Last night was our first rehearsal - five talented actors, the world's best stage manager, and two scene-stealing cats joined me on a partially-painted set in a cool-but-dry tin shed and together we brought five short plays to life, and began the process of seeing how they could coalesce into something special. There were lots of laughs, lots of smiles, and a few profound silences as we read through the plays. It was the first time in months that I'd been back in a rehearsal hall, and it felt great. I slept like one of those aforementioned scene-stealing cats:  This morning life struck back with a vengeance. I woke up with terrible headache that just wouldn't quit. My attempt at taking a day off work didn't pan out. Lots of technical issues mysteriously cropping up. And when I finally did get home I found out that one of our actors had a family member test positive for Covid, so no chance at a rehearsal tonight. All in all, you could say that this day got my goat: But I...