Beginnings

First rehearsal was today, and if we're judging by how today went, this process is going to be a lot of fun.  Stuart Carden, the director is a really bright guy, and I love the ideas he has for the script so far.  That's him on the right, there.

The day was pretty easy, with a meet n' greet, and a read through of the show.  It's becoming quickly apparent to me, though, that all my efforts at getting a jump on learning the lines has pretty much come to naught, as they're not sticking at all.  My ancient problem with learning lines before having blocking down is rearing its ugly head.  And for some reason, these words are having a particularly difficult sticking.  I think it might have something to do with the way Marie Jones writes -- either the rhythms of the Irish speech, or something like that.

But, we'll see how it goes.  I'll keep plugging away.

So after rehearsal this evening, I met up with Doug Rees and had dinner at Tessaro's, which is probably the best steak joint in Pittsburgh.  Afterward, we went to an informal reading of Marty Giles' new play -- of which Doug, Marty and Helena Ruoti, among others, were doing an informal reading.

 It was great to see Marty, whom I've not seen in a very, very long time.  The evening's selection was interesting, as it was a play that he'd written as a result of a conversation with Helena Ruoti, a local actress, and Doug Rees, who you'll know from these pages.  Apparently as they were having drinks one night after a show, Helena leaned over to him and asked, "When are you going to write of play for us to do?"  And Doug jumped on the bandwagon, too, wanting to be included.  So he did.

 I saw a lot of people I've not seen in quite a while, not the least of which was Lissa Brennan, Jay's girlfriend and the artistic director of Dog and Pony Show, one of the most interesting theater companies in Pittsburgh.  I also got the treat of seeing Helena, and Susie McGregor-Laine, both of whom I've not seen in an age.

 Also part of the reading was Jessica Bates, with whom I did Henceforward with PICT  several years ago, so that was a nice reunion as well.  All in all, it was a fun evening, and the lot of us went, of course -- it being on the South Side -- to Tuscany for an adult beverage afterward.

I think the best part about coming back to Pittsburgh is having the chance to catch up with all these people I love, but don't get the opportunity to see very often.  I'm awful about keeping up with the people who should be in my life -- more so since I've been without a computer; the art of writing full-on letters via e-mail was something I was in the midst of single-handedly reviving when my laptop died last year.

It's something I have to get back to in the next few weeks.  There are tons of people from whom I've not heard.