I am really loving the new album from The Twilight Sad!
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“Toby” Remembered
Today, a friend on Facebook (and fellow high school classmate) posted a birthday message to another classmate, that I will call “Toby” for this post. Lots of people “liked” this post and left comments about how funny “Toby” was and how he was such a great guy. All this outpouring of love for this long dead guy angered me. I really had to resist the urge to post a blunt and unflattering comment (that surely would have gotten me condemned by everyone).
“Toby” was killed in 1993. He had become a North Carolina State Trooper after graduation. During a routine stop on the interstate his vehicle was plowed into from behind by a semi driven by a guy who was hopped up on drugs. Needless to say, he was killed … and then lionized because he was a trooper and was killed while on duty.
See … I remember “Toby” too. Only I don’t remember him as the “Funny Guy” or “Good Guy” or “Valiant State Trooper.”
He was the person I wanted to avoid every day of junior high and high school. I remember him as the guy who would call me names and say mean things. I remember him as the guy who occasionally would hit me for no reason. I remember him as the guy who would grab my things and not give them back or break them. “Toby” was the guy who bullied me. When we graduated, it was a great relief to know that I would never have to see or deal with him ever again.
Fast forward 20+ years and it’s still hard for me to feel that there was anything good or redeeming about him. It was tempting to tell people that today … to tell them that “the guy you remember so fondly was a mean person that did harm to others for no reason other than he could.”
I know people change and maybe he did. I sure hope he did and didn’t make life miserable for other people.
Chasing … Banky & Holden
I watched “Chasing Amy” again this past week … and, no matter how many times I see it, I still hold out hope that Banky and Holden are going to get together at the end of the movie.
“The Pillowman” Wrap Up
Six weeks of rehearsals, six performances … and it’s all over.
After thinking about this show for so long, it feels kinda weird to be shut of it. It took about three years to find the right cast. I gotta give kudos to Jack (who played Tupolski) for hanging in there that long. I gave him the script to read and he immediately said “Yes.” Over the past few years, I had various people on the hook but they all fell through for various reasons. I have to say that I am glad. Last Spring, I hooked Steve (who played Ariel) into accepting … and then Colin agreed to play Katurian. I had been wanting Colin for the show for a while and I was really, really excited when he agreed to take on that massive role. I fretted over the role of Michal for several more months until Justin worked on “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” After some harassment, he came on board and we were off and running.
I felt weird accepting compliments from people that came to see the show. Sure I directed it and came up with the lighting and sound design … but those four guys are the ones who made “The Pillowman” what it was. The acting was pretty much electric every night and I am bummed that I only got to see it on it’s feet for three dress rehearsals and the six performances.
I gotta say that I am really, really going to miss this show.
Hacked and Attacked
Ugh.
I was going to do a wonderful post last night about “The Pillowman” and how great the show turned out … but I noticed the admin on this site behaving strange. After some investigating, I discovered my web folders has been hacked with nasty, evil site redirecting malware for Russia.
So … after 4 hours of searching for answers, finding the malicious code and a doing a fresh install of the newest versions of WordPress and my site’s theme, I am back up and running. But I will damned if I can get my header image to show. Grrrrrrr.
Hopefully the site will be back to normal soon.
Eye Candy Break [TV Edition]
This is Rutledge Wood from “Top Gear.”
Off and Running
Yes. I have been MIA the past few weeks … but with good reason. Our Studio production of “The Pillowman” is now up and running. It’s been a busy few weeks trying to get everything together. I decided to do things the hard way and turn the main stage of the theater into a black box space. It’s been a lot of extra work but it helps give the show a little bit of edge due to changing things up for the audience. Folks that have come to see the show have been very complimentary. It’s nice to know folks appreciate theater that’s more “edgy” and not just your average “run of mill” stuff.
It helps that I have a damn fine cast. They have worked hard and are giving really fantastic performances in the show. I also have to give a big hat tip to my pal, Reed, for helping me find the right music for the show.
And, if you are interested, we had an article in last week’s issue of The Guide. Stina always does good write ups.
We have three performances under our belts with three more this coming weekend. Hopefully, I will have some official photos of the show to post sometime nest week.
Meanwhile …
This is the sort of thing you get into on a Friday night when you’re directing a show like “The Pillowman.” We open in two weeks!!!
Eye Candy Break [Criterion Edition]
Eye Candy Break [Avengers Edition]
While not wetting myself like most fanboys … I can say that the eye candy factor of Double Chris’s has me getting excited about “The Avengers.”
Upcoming [Theater Edition]
Take a wild guess what I am now directing!
I saw “The Pillowman” several years ago on a trip to NYC and loved it. Obviously, I have been wanting to see HART mount a production of it. The show has been bandied about in discussion for a few years … even going so far as to be suggested for the main stage. But, it’s not really the kind of show that our main stage audiences would support very well. Too much language and violence (or at least talk of violence). A few years ago I started passing the script around to folks for a possible production in the Feichter Studio. It never seemed to work out with the people I was bugging. And then suddenly last year, actors started to commit! So, now I am finally directing “The Pillowman” with a cast of four super fine actors (and a cameo by one super cute girl). We had our first rehearsal tonight and have a few more weeks to go before we open on February 24th. Viva la Theatre!
Gold Box Blues
Damn that Amazon and their Gold Box Deals!!! I just couldn’t pass up all five seasons of the original series of “The Twilight Zone” on Blu-ray for a super sweet price. I am never gonna get that credit card paid off.
Photo Evidence: “Spelling Bee”
Finally you can see some photos from the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” … directed by yours truly and starring a bunch of damn fine actors. See more after the jump! Continue reading “Photo Evidence: “Spelling Bee””