As anybody who has toured with Theatreworks knows, much of the fun of touring comes from the misadventures that surround the actual performing of the show. And this week -- our first -- has been no exception. So, without further ado, a few of the favorite tales:
• Theatreworks has a long relationship with Command Performances, a really friendly presenter way up on the US-Canadian border, in the towns of Ogdensburg and Massena. We perform at two local high schools, which have lovely stages and incredibly responsive audiences. It's also a part of the US that is beautiful, particularly at this time of year, but feels very remote for those of us used to the hustle-bustle of New York City. Yet, our Massena hotel offered (perhaps) a small taste of home. As we dashed through the pouring rain into our Super 8, the first thing we spotted was a female cop and her assistant, a tall and lanky male cop, standing in the corner, holding a woman in handcuffs. Next thing we know, the trio is marching out to a waiting squad car, throwing the woman into the back and speeding off. And nothing more was spoken of the incident.
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| David and Courtney play Othello; Courtney won |
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| Nic enjoys the "Jersey Shore" waffle: note the two scoops of ice cream |
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| Note the "funk" and "waffle" |
• We spend a lovely night in Syracuse, also at a Super 8. After indulging in some vegan pizza for dinner (Kristen is a vegan, so many of our eating choices are tending towards that), I joined Courtney and Kristen in their room to watch First Wive's Club. About halfway through the flick, Courtney shot out of her bed. "Oh my God," she shouted, "There's a bug on my bed!" As somebody who has experienced the creepy-crawlies known as bed bugs through proximity (though, thankfully, not in my own habitation), it didn't take me long to make a positive ID. We raced into action, cleared out the room, charged the front desk with our evidence, and got the ladies moved to a bug-free room. Sadly, they didn't get much sleep. With the current epidemic in NYC, we're all a little paranoid, so everybody has been steaming and ironing and drying their clothes and bags like crazy. So far, so good. On the bright side, we did spend a great morning/early afternoon of food and games at Funk 'n Waffles, a waffle-and-funk-music eatery on the Syracuse University campus:
• Birthdays on tour are important events, and our very own stage manager celebrated his this very week. Our local town offered limited attractions for a fun evening, but David's stage management ingenuity spotted something fun within driving distance: a casino. So, dressed up and ready to roll, we piled into our van and drove off to the Seneca Allegany Casino. The cast all chipped in to give David a little "cha-ching" to start the evening. Jonathan, Courtney and Kristen all got carded multiple times while on the floor, which made them pretty happy. David received a nice $15 of game play from the casino as a birthday gift, which he turned into a tidy sum by the end. Nic, Courtney and Kristen all tripled their money. I had a nice $4 drink, got yelled at for taking a photo (which appears below) and ended the night 35¢ up. All in all, it was great fun. Happy Birthday, David!
And now we gear up for an 11-show week! Can't wait to see what comes next.
Call tomorrow: 7am, Microtel in Olean, NY.
Kid Quote of the Day: During "Leonardo the Terrible Monster" (my main story), a tale about a monster who is bad at being a monster, a small child roared back at me when I attempted to "scare" the audience.
Adult Quote of the Day: (This is a new feature, demanded by the cast. These will come from within the company or the charming people we meet along the road.) After David received his birthday cash from the casino, we let out a cheer. In a droll tone, the man behind the counter groaned, "They're very supportive." David's response? "That's because I have the power to make them get up early in the morning."
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