Tech show #2, Brendan Healy's "A Cock and A Carnation"

Veteran actor Mike Dooly sports a camouflage visor, a t-shirt saying "Money Shot" and flip flops. Type casting, obviously. Scripts still in hand, he and Mazen Award winner Mark Fullerton walk their blocking onstage. Gretchen Douma, in a quite fetching bathrobe watches the action from a couch brought onstage during the transition.

Speaking of transitions, quite a lot of time seems to be being spent on the transition into this scene. It's the first one, of course, and hopefully the other will go more smoothly.

Director Katherine Van Meter recognizes that there is still a prop missing, but doesn't press that this is anything dire. I can't help but be reminded how amazing 14/48 is. These "problems" arise, and are handled. Questions are asked and answered. The magic of spontaneous theater just happens. Truly, it's amazing.

Back to the tech. The band isn't needed in this play, and they take the opportunity to take a break in the house. The actors are having far too much fun with this play. Van Meter let's them go through the entire scene, and they use the time effectively, getting a feel for the space and the stage. I'm excited to see the audience's reaction to it -- the actors are cracking me up!

Four minutes... Set pieces are re-spiked... Light specials are settled on... The next play has moved into the house... at the very last minute (literally) Van Meter asks the band what "Turkey in the Straw" would sound like in minor key (it sounds awesome)... aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddd..... TIME!!