The Wrap Up

So the Patchogue Artspace Opening came and went and the work is done and the smoke has cleared and here I am, recollecting the flurry of happenings that raged along with All That You Can't Leave Behind.

Firstly, the play was only performed on one night (Wednesday) instead of two--which it was originally scheduled for, but I still consider it a success, despite the lack of a Saturday showing. When you're not paying your actors and you don't have a back-up, you can expect that one might not be able to make it. So I think the lesson learned here is to have an understudy on hand, especially for your leads. Note taken.

Secondly, the stage was constructed beautifully just in time for the play, but unfortunately, the curtain and curtain frame were not in place for the play... So, as with any theatrical production, turning the house lights off signals the beginning and turning them back on signals the end. Viola, problem solved. However, next time would be a good time to have those curtains ready. I wouldn't recommend putting on a stage play without them.

Lastly, the room's acoustics didn't change overnight and because of this highly expected outcome, there were periods where the dialogue was swallowed up by the size of the room and its nasty habit of sounding like a giant tin can. Miking the stage might be a solution for the next production that will happen in the same space, but I believe a better solution is to bring the audience as close as possible to the stage... Or maybe, if feeling unsophisticated and risque, stuff the actor's ears full of cotton as to make them shout to one another just to be heard. That'll show em'.