Crazy Good Time Peace of Mind

Holy cow, what a month. I've wanted to post more about the extraordinarily good time of Roger Ebert coming to see the Factory Theater (of which I am now a proud Ensemble member) and Siskel and Ebert Save Chicago. I'm so glad he came to see our little show and enjoyed himself. It's been a great run which will sadly end next week. Happily, though, we've added two extra shows on Sunday the 29th. Here's a little background and here's just a little more background behind the show. The Factory Theater is a damn fine place to call home, and credit an outstanding cast, whipcrack direction, indisputably exceptional stage managing, and a slickly smart playwriting mind as major components of the latest, greatest success. It's fair to say I love being a part. Tonight, we were graced by the Siskel family and some other terrific people who hopefully enjoyed our playful and sweetly vulgar show. Thanks all.

Would that my new job's firewall did not block Blogger or I'd be posting my gushing like a fiend. As it is, I'll put up my giddies whenever I can. I'll have to find means of coping with show withdrawl a week from now. It's painful to let a good thing go; I get sad and weepy throwing out old notebooks from classes I took 15 years ago. Memory is precious to me. I know it's abstract, but I remember many things physically, and I never feel I'm holding tight enough to the good stuff. That's the difficult part of closing a show since there's not many tactile reminders of the laughs, sweat, and work that's gone into months of work and good times. Being in a show like Siskel & Ebert Save Chicago (and doing theater in general) is a bit like having a security blanket; I value it so highly but I know it's something I have to give up eventually and move on. I'm very glad to be in the Factory Theater family because I know there will be more good times to come. Plus, I may just have access to video files of past shows so I can relive the magic. Still, nothing will replace running back and forth between scenes from backstage to the front of the house, sweating my guts off, working a scene or watching the Roller Girls, Socombie minions or shtickingly accurate portrayals of local media celebrities work their magic while we and the audience happily laugh in the fun. Memory scrapbook moments. I wish I had these comforting peaces of mind on paper protected by plastic, but quoting lines to myself and snickering aloud in public (not so silently) will just have to do. Thumbs up.