DIRTY ROTTEN GREENVALE

We perform the show in Greenvale, NY (that's on Long Island which is pronounced with a hard 'g'.) for an oil painting of an audience. That is to say, they're like an audience, only silent. Now before you get to thinking that this is just tired-actor-sour-grapes, let me make it clear. Every single, sure-fire joke that gets at least a titter was met with tumble weeds and crickets. Every production number, no matter how lavish and exciting or how small and adorable was met with applause one might expect at a Sunday Afternoon fashion show of nurses uniforms. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it, audiences need to be reminded of the they are only part of the equation. We're all in the performance together. It's a conversation, and one sided conversations aren't interesting to anyone.

On top of "them", the show is crammed into another venue that doesn't have nearly enough space. All our back drops, except one, are cut because there is no fly gallery. The stair unit for the villa is cut, the basement stairs for the "Ruprecht" number are cut. The stage itself is shallow enough that the dancers are working hard to not dance on top of each other. Christy, the dance captain, promises that no one will receive any notes about tonight's performance given the space restrictions. Her advice? Do your best and don't get killed. In most cases, the tiny venues can be a nice change of pace, a chance to have a really personal relationship with an audience that isn't 50 feet away. Ah well.

I feel that we still gave a good show, especially given the mayhem and plethora of crew standing in the way backstage. Personally, I even enjoyed parts of the evening, but not even enjoyment in ones work seemed capable of permeating the wall of 'polite' applause and 'sympathetic' laughter.

The hotel is nice, even if it is the most expensive hotel we will ever stay at, only because hotel tax in New York State is through the roof. I decide that I'm not interested in re-living the show with everyone down at the bar. I spend $50 on wings and 2 glasses of wine from room service.

An all-day drive tomorrow to Harrisburg, PA.