The show closed. We stuck the set (some noble folk worked until 2:30--I did not). We had a party. Life now goes on.

Thom/Sean was here last weekend and Sheldon is leaving this morning, having seen the show two nights ago (and worked mightily at strike), and being the old and true friends they are, they were able to tell me what they saw in the show that was problematic. Neither was kind to the staging of the show. Thom knows the show inside and out and had some interpretation (or lack of) concerns. Sheldon, who does not know the show and dislikes musicals anyway, had some basic blocking and stylistic concerns. Both told me things I knew in my heart but wasn't dealing with because there was precious little I could do about them.

However, what did come out of Thom's comments was a tighter focus on what Cervantes experience in the dungeon was like. As Anthony said, "Dad, there is no threat to you in that dungeon at all," so I brainstormed with Thom about ways to play the scenes even though I was not getting what I needed from the others onstage. Thom pointed out the ways that I could make the lack of directorial focus work for me instead of against me.

Sheldon caught me schmacting a couple of times, and I admit to it in spots. There was so much on my shoulders in this play that I did fall prey to giving the audience what they think they want instead of always serving the piece. Vocally, however, I never gave in--never oversold the songs, never went for the showy high note that would make everyone gasp. Vocally it was the best experience of my life--I have never sung better and rarely worked with singers of such high caliber.

I touched a lot of hearts--the audiences after the show were glowingly complimentary, and the comments I got from the close to 500 people I brought to the Saratoga Drama Group (many for the first time) were lovely. I am so happy to have had the chance to do this show, play this part, work with these people, and do good work. Who knows what future opportunities will be like?