Last week we "froze" the show. It was an all consuming and high pressured week where we did everything we could to make the show as good as possible. Edit. write new lyrics, add brand new numbers, take numbers away, re-stage songs. The prologue has been about 6 different versions, the ending is completely new. I would go in early for music meetings and writing meetings, then rehearse from 12.30 - 4.00 PM and learn brand new staging, or get multiple new pages of dialogue and scenes and have to implement everything we put in that day into the show that evening. My body was so tense, on edge, you couldn't really settle into the show ever because it was always so different and you were on edge about what you might fuck up. Live theatre brings mistakes, things you can't redo, learning learning learning, going with the flow, accepting where you're at.
We froze the show on Thursday, we did it Friday, twice on Saturday and then Sunday matinee. I started yawning at 8.00 PM last night, by 9.00 I was snoozing on the sofa, by 9.30 PM I was tucked up in bed and I actually fell asleep all the way through to 8.30 am. It was the most I have slept and most relaxed I have felt in a long time.
This week we start doing 8 shows a week instead of 7. We also have press/opening week and then I have 42 people from London flying in! We have family from San Fransisco, even Linda's Dad is flying out from Italy. It's going to be so joyous. Linda has been talking about wearing a gold suit to the opening of Only Gold for years now it seems so surreal that they're actually coming out here to do it.
I feel so proud of every member of this company, the amount of people it takes to make our mammoth of a show happen every night, or afternoon.
I've finally adjusted to New York. The sounds wash over me, I don't apologise for noise in. the background when I'm on the phone, sometimes I talk over the sirens and the trucks and shouting and clanking. I actually feel like this city has now brought me something so special. The people I made this show with are like a new type of family. I imagine what it will be like when I play a show here in New York. I have a whole new community.
I didn't even celebrate Halloween this year, so unlike me. Usually I love any excuse to celebrate. But I'm learning the art of saving reserves. Rest is really the biggest part of my time off. I did sit on my balcony and drink my coffee with some pumpkin loaf though. What did you do?
Love you guys so much!! I cannot believe I have made it to this point, I feel like I truly survived something, it was so challenging and difficult. Now its onto the next phase of polishing and cleaning the show to make this version of the show as strong as it can be. I'm intrigued, I never have any clue what to expect!
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