I'm Back

I'm back in Pittsburgh, having had a great time in Jennerstown. What a delight to see all my friends at Mountain Playhouse again.

The trip up with Barbara went really well - as she noted, it helped to pass the time, having someone with whom to talk - though we talked less about her career than we did about all the traveling she's done. I think that's wonderful, actually, and hope someday to be able to really travel in the way that she does.

I got to see Doug & Janet and Nick & Susan and Biff & Rachel Baron and, of course, Tom Langdon; they were all, I think, as delighted to see me as I was to see them!

I haven't the time to do so right now, but in the next couple of days I'm going to post some of the photos from the trip. They concentrate mostly on Janet Dickinson's garden - her own little summer release from being gardenless in New York. On many of them, I used the new 7x & 10x lens adaptors for my camera and the results - given my lack of experience - turned out pretty well, I think. I think you'll enjoy them.

I main point of my visit, aside from the visit itself, was to see Doug & Janet & Nick & Susan in Caught in the 'Net, the Ray Cooney farce that opened Tuesday at the Playhouse. It really is something to watch a talented group of actors who've been working together for a long time just get up and play together on something that aspires to be nothing more than just plain fun. Despite some opening night jitters, they crew was clicking along - as evidenced by the fact that I've never seen so many screamers in an audience before. From beginning to end it was a blast.

So of course the trip had to end, and I was lucky enough to be able to hitch a ride back into town with Biff Baron, as he had to come into the city on some business. I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to spend a lot of time talking to Biff, even though I've known him since we did Cyrano de Bergerac together, years ago. Biff (well, his real name is Scott, but we all know him as "Biff") is the Resident Director at Mountain Playhouse, and one of the nicest guys I know. And also one of the most naturally funny guys I know. It was really cool to have a chance to talk to him, and catch up.

So now I'm back in Pittsburgh and heading into the final week of the show. Eeek!