Work in Progress

[Tenarke]

F.Y.I. on the off chance that anyone was interested; I have posted nothing on this for this season because I did no plays this year. My wife has been impaneled on our local county Grand Jury which has involved her in a lot of meetings and other activities down in the valley. For this she needed use of our only car. Our other vehicle was my old pick-up which was then beset with electrical gremlins making it unsuitable for night time use. We finally got money enough together to have it exorcised of these demons (well almost all) so I should be OK for next season.

When I find out what next season entails I will start this thread up again.

[Aravis]

I'm glad that you've exorcised those demons; I was wondering about your theater activities. I wonder what you'll get up to next? *G*

[Wyndham]

I'm interested Tenarke. I'd like to do theatre, but just dont' have time. I'll follow your lead, and wait for retirement . . . if I can ever afford to retire.

Heah: I thought you were an engineer? Is the existence of gremlins and demons (outside the Whitehouse!) scientifically recognised?

[RobertGraves]

WWII bomber pilots recognised 'gremlins'.

[pinkozcat]

Anyone who has ever owned a computer has GOT to believe in gremlins.

[Wyndham]

I believe in gremlin and demons as well -- can't explain, otherwise, why my work computer responds so well to harsh language, and threats of violence. An inanimate object wouldn't demonstrate spite in the first instance, or fear in the second! The thing won't boot, or takes several tries, or appears to choke on a network download -- I say, 'listen you b@stard: you don't like me, and I don't like you. You start this time, or its down the stairs and into a dumpster' (that punctuated by a punch to the screen). Works EVERY time.

I urgently desire, however, the testimony of an engineer that science recognises they exist (once again, outside the White house 2001-8, where their existence was self evident). I'll feel less shame that way when people catch me talking to them!

[Tenarke]

It is my recollection that Gremlins were first discovered and their existence verified by the RAF during WWII. There are some significant indications of their close connection with Lord Lucas, the Prince of Darkness. This can be confirmed by conversation with any owner of an early MG or Triumph motor car.

As for my status as an expert you must recall that I have two separate Bachelor Degrees, one in the Humanities and the other in Mechanical Engineering. I find I therefore tend to agree with Socrates in saying, “The only thing that I know is that I know nothing.” The more I have studied, the longer I have lived, the less I know for sure.

Science has provided us with many useful explanations, good working hypotheses for engineers among others, but these are always available to scrutiny and may be subject to revision at any time. Witness what Dr. Einstein did to Sir Isaac in my lifetime and there is surely much more to come.

I only have the vaguest smattering of what is happening nowadays in Quantum Physics, the “String” theory or what Dr. Hawkings has on his mind, but the latest I have been given to understand regarding the nature of the physical universe is that it is, “stranger than you imagine, indeed stranger than you can imagine”.

Yes, science understands a good deal about the physical world we live in but clearly sees that there is a great deal more left to be understood.

I confess that in the past in spite of my learning I have also cursed both my pick-up and my ancient Japanese diesel tractor when their behavior has disappointed. So much for enlightenment!

If physics has nothing to say regarding gremlins, that is nothing compared to the very strange stuff they do assert about quarks.

[Aravis]

There is actually a "Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory;" we carry it at the store where I work. I didn't see any mention of gremlins on the cover, though. *G*

[Tenarke]

Have a look inside this book. I think you’ll see what I mean.

Anyway; this is why I haven’t been posting anything here this season.

[Tenarke]

Here we go again. I am involved in another play and perhaps something of an adventure.

The play is “The Fantastiks”, a “feel good” musical, not my favorite thing to do. The Director, Bob, who I have worked with before is not my favorite director. Then why on earth did I agree to do it? The word is that the proceeds will in part benefit the conversion of a closed movie theater into a proper live theater complete with flies and wings and full stage lighting. Knowing Bob, this is by no means a sure thing but it sounds like he has some good outside backing with money. If it does work it would be good to be in on the beginning, if not – no real damage done. At least I wouldn’t have to kick myself for passing up something good. There’s enough of that in the past as it is.

This will not be in the “Birdcage” in Oroville where I have been associated the past 8 years, but in Marysville another small city in the other direction, about 40 miles away rather than 30. Rehearsals start this week, performances in August.

I will play Henry, an aging Shakespearian actor. Thus my character will be a caricature of myself; something I have never attempted before. Hopefully, I will be true to my art, show no mercy and spare myself nothing.

[Tenarke]

This will be an update on the “Fantastiks” and an apology for my recent inactivity. There have been lines to learn, a tractor to repair and new kitten to enjoy, all in addition my other chores about the property. All in all, it has turned out to be a busy summer.

The play opens this Friday and, as usual, is not quite ready yet. After all these years I should be used to this by now; nonetheless everything puckerable is well and truly puckered. I am in pretty good shape. “Henry” is a small part and I was off book some weeks ago. The lead however still can’t make it all the way through the last act. His is a singing role, so this means there are points where the music plays on and he doesn’t. Embarrassing.

I mentioned before that I didn’t particularly work well with this director. He turns out to be one year older than I, but time has not been so kind to him. He now works from his walker or an electric scooter. He has directed this play a number of times before and his mind is often not with what we are doing here and now, but with how it was done in times past.

It has been confirmed that this production is part of an effort to fund the conversion of a local closed movie theater into a straight “live” theater and that there is some additional local money behind it. I estimate that they will be looking for at least $2 million and change to do this. I haven’t, as yet, been able to hear too much detail on how this is coming but the locals attached to the production all sound optimistic.

This may well go nowhere; however, if it does work I would have had to kick myself for passing up the opportunity.

I’ll have more to say after this weekend.

[Tenarke]

We opened last night. Everyone said their appointed words. The flubs, if any, were too small to notice. None of the sets fell down. The audience laughed at us a good deal and; considering that this is a comedy, I take that as a good thing.

At any rate I am a good deal less gloomy today than I was this time yesterday.

When I have seen some reviews I will have more to say.

[RobertGraves]

Another triumph for the local community, I'm sure! Well done, Tenarke!

[Tenarke]

We brought “Fantasticks” down last Sunday; having finally learned the correct misspelling of it.

The one local review was favorable but bland and somewhat generic. Some of our frnt of house people were of the opinion that the reviewer was pretty well juiced and may not have been clearly aware of what was going on.

It apparently did a satisfactory job at the box office. This is of academic interest only as this is community theater and we all do it for a good cause only; i.e., no pay.

Though “Fantasticks” is considered to have been New York’s longest running show, counting both on and off Broadway it was not one of my personal favorites. Evidently they agreed with me in London where it was staged on the West End and closed in less than a week.

I did however get a chance to touch base again with theater people in Marysville, the only other city near to me. I did a couple of things there about a decade back. I may have something lined up for next spring. I looked over The Birdcage’s schedule for 2009/2010 in Oroville and find nothing of interest there.

We’ll see.

[Tenarke]

After a dry spell 08/09 it looks as though my plate is once again filling up.

I mentioned in my last post that I had looked over the Birdcage’s 09/10 schedule and saw nothing of interest. However my phone rang. (Well, it didn’t exactly ring – nowadays they warble.) It was someone from Birdcage calling about a play called “Moon Over Buffalo”. This was a comedy which Carol Burnett had done on Broadway. I hadn’t seen it but I was able to pull up the cast list and again it looked as though I was too old for any of the parts – thus my lack of interest. The caller said that the director, Gary, was tearing his hair looking for someone who understood comedy timing and that age was no problem.

This got my attention. I have never met Gary before. He is apparently new at the Birdcage and apparently is aware that there actually is something called comedy timing. I have just got to meet Gary.

Auditions this Friday.

I had also mentioned in my last that I might have something lined up with a group called The Acting Company, 40 miles in the other direction in Yuba City, across the river from Marysville. Neil, who played Gallo, the lead in “Fantasticks”, also directs. He wants to do “Arsenic and Old Lace” this July. I mentioned to him that I had played Dr. Einstein in this when I was 19 and that I would love to give it another shot now, 61 years later. He sounded intrigued.

Auditions are in June, one day after the last performance of “Buffalo”.

Then the phone rang (or warbled) again. It was Herman who has directed me in several past plays. He wants to do “Sunshine Boys” next October. The movie version of this co-starred George Burns and Walter Matthau. This time Herman doesn’t want to direct he wants to co-star with me. Who will play which is to be determined.

This gets into next season and is not yet definitely scheduled.

Feast or famine!