A Writer's notebook, Day One-Hundred-Thirty-Six

So, my play ran long today, as I expected, and the main takeaway from the rehearsal was for me to cut a bunch more.  In all truth, we really did not get very far with my piece, as other plays for the event went long in rehearsal.  We did a read through early on, but otherwise we did not get any real work done.

I found it a little frustrating, really, that I had handed in my last draft asking about the need for more cuts and was told to wait until after the first rehearsal, when I would be able to get a bit more guidance.  The way things worked out, I was in basically the same position of knowing it needed some cuts, but not having any real guidance on what to do.  Still, I had been charged with making the edits tonight so that the actor can have a chance to look at the new draft before we get back to work tomorrow.

In the discussion, the one thing that I really could have used was a bit of advice on how much needed to be cut, but that was not forthcoming.  At one point I suggested around 200 and the director said, "at least" which didn't really clarify very much.  I managed to pull out another 370 words in all tonight, though, which I hope will be satisfactory.  In many ways, it is not so much that I wouldn't be willing to cut more, it is that I know tomorrow is the only chance to rehearse before the performance.  It would be good to hear the play in the form that it will be in when it goes up.  Of course, I recognize that edits and changes happen even up to the day of the show, but I am not speaking about minor changes, more about the large type of rewrite that involves the entire script. 

The actor in the play was really wonderful, and I want to say how much I enjoyed talking with him tonight.  We had a bunch of time outside the rehearsal, while other pieces that he is not in were being rehearsed (he is performing in several plays, not just mine).  In our discussions, he seemed to have a real connection with the play, and I was very glad to hear him discussing it, as he seemed to really have a sense of it as something special.  It is wonderful to feel that you have people to work with who really are passionate and seem to get the ideas.  Beyond it being flattering to have your work considered meaningful, it is also really wonderful to feel a sense of belonging within a creative community of this sort.  Beyond this, having watched him in several readings today, I can say that he is definitely a very fine actor, and I feel fortunate that he is in my play, not only because of his capacity in general, but because he seemed to feel a sense of connection with the work and particularly with aspects of it that are very central to it. 

Anyhow, I am exhausted, having spent five hours in rehearsal and then working on the revisions at home, so I am going to keep this on the shorter side and just say goodnight.

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