7.18.01

ah, the outdoors fucked with us again tonight. picture this:

6pm: sunny, warm, slight breeze.

8pm: sunny, warm, still. a perfect summer night for an outdoor play.

8:10pm: the wind begins gusting. we stop using the curtain.

9pm: the periaktoi (gigantic pieces of scenery on wheels big enough to kill someone) begin sailing around the stage in the gale-force wind. we send actors on to catch them. the audience laughs. we continue the show without the scenery or curtain.

10pm: it begins to sprinkle. actors wear ponchos over their costumes.

10:05pm: it begins to pour. we get the furniture under cover, plastic-bag the electronics, pause the show.

10:10pm: the rain stops. an army of stage and house crew squeegee, mop, and towel dry the stage under bright lights. the audience applauds our efforts.

10:15pm: the storm sails on by, wind dies down, we continue the show on a beautiful summer night.

11:10pm: the final scene approaches. jeff: “how’s the wind backstage?” me: “perfectly calm” jeff: “good, then let’s use the curtain for the final scene,” and then WHOOMP! a gust of wind just about knocks the theatre down at that very moment. it’s like we’ve angered the gods somehow.

oh, for the comforts of a climate-controlled black box. i’m exhausted.