Jim's Richard III Blog

What had started as a blog of Richard III rehearsal process at Cal Shakes has now evolved or devolved into a small novella. The author is petrified to change the name for fear it'll disappear, and wouldn't know what to call it anyway. Many stories are included and questions are even answered sometimes!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Naughty Boy

Yes, I've been naughty. I confess. I got a note from someone in Administration asking me to post some more entries........ahem.

I have been busy with Lear--my only excuse.

We opened last Saturday and it went well enough for an opening night; I didn't feel particularly inspired but I had a decent enough performance--we were all very tired. I managed to fall off the stage at one point........

I have a blindfold on which is rigged to afford me limited visibility (very limited) but find myself closing my eyes nonetheless, (otherwise I'm looking at and not listening to what's happening and being said) and so, during the Edgar Oswald fight in which the only register I have as to what's happening are pants, grunts, shuffling feet, the movement of fabric and occasional scream of anguish, I screw my eyes tightly shut and scramble for the stairs which lead from the stage to the audience and listen to the struggle.

Opening night I crawled to the edge, put my hand out to descend to the first step, felt nothing under my hand and continued to slide entirely off the side of the stage. I did manage to catch myself on both hands, but removed 2 inch portions of skin from either pectoral.

At least my nipples were spared. That's something.

Ouch.

3 Comments:

Blogger Carrie K said...

Ouch. It must be getting easier, you didn't fall off the stage when I saw the play.

Also I didn't realize until reading the playbill that you were playing Gloucester! It's sort of annoying to me that I didn't at least recognize your voice.

I've read that King Lear is fundamentally a fairy tale.

September 29, 2007 at 10:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great posting! Oh, the perls of the theater!

October 5, 2007 at 12:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw the show last night. Kudos to everyone for performing beautifully, despite the disappointing absence of a major cast member. Can you post about what it was like for the cast to suddenly be playing scenes opposite the understudy who, in this case, wasn't even offbook? Despite the upheaval in the cast and the awkward moments that caused, I thought the production was wonderful. Thank you!

October 11, 2007 at 5:59 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home