in the first act of the play, after my character, Brooke, has done bodily injury to two of my fellow cast members, the guy playing the director, Lloyd, has a line, “walking wounded carry the stretched cases.”
that’s how i felt last night. i wanted somebody to carry me home.
it all started painlessly. one of my garters SPROINGED off, and i was a little distracted trying to attach it again. this was during the first act; afterwards, patrick said when it came off it hit the door behind me and made a loud noise. i didn’t hear, because i was focused on trying to re-attach it.
but this was no big deal.
during the second act, i’ve written about how the entire set is turned around backwards so the audience can see what’s going on behind the scenes. about halfway through i crawl around on the floor then i get up and pretend to smack my head against the window frame, then i fall over the couch.
it didn’t go so well last night, and i’m not sure why. the window smack wasn’t quite right, and then when i went to fall over the couch there was a bag on it and maybe some other things, and i just didn’t do it right and i jammed my finger and i might have hurt my back, but i’m not sure.
i felt a little unsteady after that, but the lines i had to deliver were behind a wall, so it was ok. then i had to run upstairs. i was standing there and all of a sudden there was this realy loud THUNK. i reeled. a large picture attached to the wall above me fell. on my head.
now, i don’t think this was a light picture. and it was pretty big; i’d say about two feet by four, maybe? the pain in my head was intense, and now i really felt wobbly. i had more lines to deliver, and i kept going, and the assistant director, susan, rushed over with a flashlight to see if i was still alive. i kept feeling around in my hair to see if my head had split open, but i didn’t even feel any blood.
i got through the rest of the act, went in the dressing room, and my shoulder was bright red and hurt a lot, and i had a scrape on my back. i didn’t know if this was from falling over the couch or getting hit with the painting. i mostly felt shaken, and took the only drug i could find in my purse, a lone Motrin.
before the third act i was walking around trying to see if my props were where they were supposed to be, and somebody had put them in place, and i thought all was ok. but then Troy reminded me that i was supposed to be wearing my dress. i was walking around in my bustier, and if he hadn’t said something i’m pretty sure i’d have gone on without it.
i felt a little better, but then Patrick had to throw the phone offstage right next to me after i exit. it landed on the very tip of my toe, and the pain was sharp and tears started to well up in my eyes. at this point i decided there was little chance of making it through the rest of the play alive.
patrick came off stage and apologized a lot, but of course it was an accident. and the play just kept going, and the funny thing is, it’s the best it’s been so far. i mean, really good.
all I wanted was to go home and sleep.
this morning there’s just a little bump on my head, my shoulder seems fairly ok, and it’s only my back that hurts.
whew.
tonight we’re doing a quick run-through with no props or costumes, so we’ll get done early. this is a good thing. i have a busy day, massage-wise, and i wish i didn’t.
but it’s all good. really. today there’s going to be an article and a photo in the paper, but i heard last night that we didn’t make the cover of the arts & entertainment section. this is disappointing because they ALWAYS put a picture on the cover. i’m worried that we won’t have very big crowds because we’ve had almost no advertising and most people haven’t even heard of the play.
i figure the only thing that might bring people in is word of mouth. so please, come see the play and tell your friends.
i am looking forward to opening night. TOMORROW. my family will be there. and saturday night, my friend christine is coming! yesterday she decided to get a ticket to visit a guy, Paolo, who’s in Chicago at the moment, and she’s getting in at two in the afternoon on saturday and they’re going to drive down here and see the show. hopefully her plane won’t be delayed.
i can’t think of anything more to say right now. except my neck hurts, too.
quit complaining. you didn’t BREAK anything. you’re not BLEEDING.
true, very true.
ok then. i hope your day has nothing unexpectedly painful in it. which is what i’m hoping for myself.
grace.