Dropping Like Flies

It's so hot today, the cat tipped over.

To a Mouse...

Of Mice & Men is officially closed as of 4:30 this afternoon and, I have to admit, I don't quite know what to do with myself. I thought I was glad for this one to close, but now... I'm not so sure.

We did the show, we went to Timmy Nolan's and ate and drank, and we went back to the theatre and dismantled the set. Ten hours ago when I got to the theatre it was Soledad, CA complete with bunkhouse, barn, and riverbank.Now it's (mostly) a black box with a strange wall in the middle.

I'm in mourning.

I'll miss the prologue. Mike's great lights with Troy's exquisite music. It did so much to set the tone and bring the audience into the world of the play.

I'll miss watching Josh go between Bruce Willis, himself, and Clint Eastwood in his portrayal of Curley.

I'll miss the looks on people's faces as they leave, wiping the tears off their cheeks.

I'll miss the way Mark said, "Whing... ding."

I'll miss the way every time I gave a call (like "ten minutes") Gary would say, "Till what?"

I'll miss Annie's fantastically awesome, old-school movie star hair and the way she "flops her can around."

And I'll miss Sean and Andrew period.

Thank you Steinbeck, thank you Banshee, thank you Auntie. It was a memorable tenth show.

"If we shadows have offended,
think but this and all is mended,
that you have but slumbered here
while these visions did appear.

And as I am an honest Puck,
if we have unearned luck
now to 'scape the serpent's tongue
we will make amends ere long.

Else the Puck a liar call
and so good night unto you all.
Give me your hands if we be friends
and Robin will restore amends."
-A Midsummer Night's Dream(Not Mice, but the sentiment is right.)

Home Again... Home Again...

One of the quirkier parts of my new job is the drive home.

First, there's the landfill from which emanates fascinating smells when the weather is over 60 degrees. Most of them have a hint of pine. Figure that one out.

Second is the "District of Sin" (my name for it). First, I pass the wholesale ice cream store and then, two blocks later, the wholesale XXX DVD store. Sounds like a good time, right?

Third is the very cool tree. It's on the parking strip in the District and the trunk is completely hollow, but one side is worn away so you can see inside. And despite all this, it's flourishing. Green and glorious. I'm hoping to get a picture of it one day.

Fourth is the cement "river" with four inches of stagnant, rat-infested water in the bottom. It's strewn with grafitti and all sorts of unsavoury garbage. The best part is the "No Swimming" sign right by it.

Last, and this is the best part, was the Lexus I was behind yesterday. In the back window, with a fluffy towel below it and a luxurious sunbeam above it, was a gigantic white cat. You know, like that cat that the Bond villain had. (What was his name, Josh?) It looked out of the window at me as if to say, "Yes, Jeeves and I are out on the town today. A trip to the Turkish baths, a stint on Rodeo Drive, and then off to the Club for brandy and cigars." It made me wish I could join him.

What about the grocery story with the mini carnival in the parking lot? Well, it's long gone.

And what about the latino gentleman riding the dappled grey horse that would mike mother go all giggly and googly-eyed? I still see him occasionally.

This is why I take surface streets instead of the freeway. You never see this stuff zooming along at 70 mph. Try it sometime. You might see the sign for the restuarant "HUNAN TASTE" that (I swear to God) looks like it says "HUMAN TASTE." Really.

Inquiring Young Minds...

Today, we had the first ever "School Matinee" at the Banshee. Two English classes came from a local highschool for a morning of Steinbeck. They snickered at inappropriate moments, dropped brownie crumbs on our floors, and generally were... well, highschool students. But, during the Q&A after the show, they asked some intelligent questions (and some that only Steinbeck could answer from beyond the grave).

Many students have come to see Of Mice & Men, whether it's been for extra credit or because their parents made them, and it seems that all of them have enjoyed themselves immensely. They cringe when the gun is fired, groan when the puppy ends up dead, and occasionally sob at the end. One of them even said, "Oh, shit," one night when Lennie mentioned that his puppy was dead. You've gotta love live theatre.

And after the show's over? They swarm the stage, take pictures on the set, and swoon over the slightly-perplexed actors. This is the first crowd I've seen ask for autographs. Mark was even accosted at the bar one night, when a swarm of adoring girls found him there.

All in all, I couldn't be happier with the interest they've shown. After all, our box office has done better for this show than the last two combined! And what does that mean? It means we get to do another show! Year of the Hiker by John B. Keane is coming up in July. But, we still have two weeks of Mice left, so bring on the students. We've got plenty of brownies left.