Last Show

It was the last show on Sunday afternoon. After the show on Saturday there was a cast and crew party on the third floor of the theater lobby. There was drinks and pizza and everybody was happy to talk about how the show went and what's happening next. I was saying hi to everyone in the cast and taking pictures. I got home at midnight and didn't fall asleep until 12:30.

Sunday's show was a big success and everyone was happy to go home. But there was some sadness about the show ending. I felt like it was really over when I took my last bow. I'm going to miss everyone in the cast. This was one of the best summers I ever had.

Turn your cell phones off

During the show last Thursday night, someone forgot to turn off their cell phone. It started ringing in the middle of scene 2.1a. This is the scene where Portia and Bassanio are dancing before Bassanio chooses the casket. The phone kept ringing so Bassanio stopped the show. He said "is anyone going to claim this device?" Nobody did. Finally, a lady sitting in the front row on the right side checked in her purse and then ran out of the theater. She was found in the bathroom by backstage management crying because she was so embarrassed. The moral of the story is: Turn off your phones!

The Set

I think the set in the Merchant of Venice is a harder set to act on than usual plays because the scenery stays the same throughout the show. It doesn’t change but the actors are in a house, on a sidewalk, on a street and in a court. There also is a big huge staircase in the center going from cue light 12. During the show it is the stairs to Portia’s second story in her house, an entrance to a train station and even a balcony where Portia sees a plane go overhead. You have to really act like you are in each place or the play will get messed up.

Cue Lights

At the Shakespeare Harmon Theater, cue lights are very important. They are important because they tell people when to go on stage for their scene. There are thirteen lights total and one is at each entrance to the stage. The lights are the opposite of when you drive a car. They flicker green when you are supposed to stand by, and then when they turn off, that’s when you go on stage. Actors also listen for lines which is very hard. The cue lights are much easier.

Jobs Backstage

There are a lot of jobs backstage. Backstage management is one of them and Bonnie is in charge. Erin is the child wrangler and her job is to watch me and the other kid in the show. Wardrobe takes care of all the costumes and helps with quick changes. They keep the costumes clean and fix anything that breaks. The show has lots of props and people are there to take care of them. The props include pretzels, croissants, “champagne”, apples and large knives. All of the above plus actors equal the show.

The Trial Scene

During the trial scene, I have to stand in a window up on the second floor of the deck. We have to sit very still and act like we are really interested is what everybody's saying. We can move into a different position three times and we can't fidget. Doing that, we actually have to listen to them so I've memorized the lines to make it more fun. It makes the long scene a good deal quicker when you have something to think about. I enjoy the scene because I know the lines.

The scene is over for me when a policeman pushes us off stage. He shoos the kids off because kids shouldn't be watching what they were about to do -- cut a pound of flesh out of someone.

Taxes

Kai just got his first paycheck today. Federal and DC taxes weren't withheld, but he is still not at all pleased that he has to pay Social Security and Medicare tax. His comment: "What! I'm just a kid and I have to pay the government! Totally not fair."

I think I may be raising a little Republican after all.

The Prince of Morocco

The Prince of Morocco (whose real name is Karl) is one of my favorite characters in the play because of his funny lines and actions. He waves his sword around and acts like he is the most deserving to marry Portia. He chooses the golden box and instead of a picture of Portia he finds a skull inside and gives the second speech of his scene which starts “Oh, h&*^.”

The Walker

On the last Sunday afternoon preview show (last week), the show started with a bang. I'm the first person to run out on stage. My part is to run around and play the game Kick the Can on stage. The other boy and I enter from stage left from where the audience sits. That day, an audience member put their walker where I was supposed to run out. The walker was black and it was very dark. I didn't see it but I felt it. I crashed into it as I was running on stage and it made a huge noise. I flipped into and fell. The show must go on so I had to get up and keep going. When I came off stage, Hanna of backstage management handed me an ice pack for my leg. Mr. McSweeny, the director, asked if I was OK. I've learned to look out for obstacles where I don't expect them.