A Writer's notebook, Day One-Hundred-Forty-One

So, the New Play Festival at Theatre Lab is now over.  Technically, they have another event tomorrow, but it is in a different location, for a different audience, and is a repeat of plays already presented this weekend.  In all, I saw readings of five long plays, I believe, as well as the six short pieces in the showcase that I participated in.  The experience as a whole was really incredible, and the plays that I saw in the past few days were all really interesting and special.

In terms of my own work, I feel that my play was successful, but I know it still needs a bunch of work.  First, it needs to be a bit shorter, in order to make it eligible for submission to ten-minute play events.  As well, I think there are some ideas that I might be able to sharpen a bit.  I think it first needs to be cut down, but I had a brief discussion about it with the founder of Theatre Lab, Lou Tyrell, and he suggested the possibility that I might want to push certain things a bit. 

I think it has a potential as a piece, since it is somewhat unusual as a monologue, and it also explores an interesting and often overlooked type of character in a way that is not driven by issues.  I spoke with a number of people who were very complimentary to me about the piece, and one playwright whose piece was read today made a comment about how they hadn't really seen a monologue that was so direct in telling a story to the audience in that way.  Honestly, I think much of that was a result of my not thinking about it that way.  In my mind, it was very much an exploration of that voice, and much of the plot is really ideas that developed while I was working with Matt.

I've done a read through of the script tonight, again, and did mark it up for editing, but I am not equipped to do the work tonight.  I am going to get back to it tomorrow.  For now, I am going to probably have a bit of dinner and then relax and get to bed early.  I am still exhausted, and my adrenaline high has faded as well.  Tomorrow, hopefully, I can take it easy, naps, and perhaps even get some work done.

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