Lucky Change of Events

I was supposed to work tonight.
I drove all the way to work, and I was there about five minutes, when one of the other managers walked in the door. I knew this manager was schedule off - because he usually works Friday nights, and I usually have them off.

As it turns out, he requested this Friday night off a long time ago, and since then his plans have changed. Since he works a pretty set schedule - he didn't even think about the fact that he wasn't scheduled. I was more than willing to work - I had nothing planned for tonight. But, when he turned to me and said, "You wanna take off?" - I DID NOT turn him down.

I changed clothes. Ran some errands. Then made my way to the Wheeler Arts Center, so that I could watch "The Last Five Years". I was planning on catching it tomorrow night, after work, but with my newfound free evening (and the fact that I couldn't find anyone to go with me Saturday night anyways...) I decided to catch the show - since I would be doing so alone, no matter what.

Now, this frees me up tomorrow night, so that I can go and watch the Pacers preseason game. And I'll be sure to do this - since the news said that Jackson is going to likely be playing, and with the Detroit reports saying they are going to try to lock up Jackson - I'd like to see him play as much as I can!!! So, everything worked out for the best.

Ever since I bought the CD for "The Last Five Years" and read all of the notes inside, I've always had my own vision of how the production played out. While I was already emotionally attached to the lyrics and the music - I am SO GLAD that I've finally witnessed the production live.

It's one thing to know the songs, but it's SO AMAZING when you're watching the actors portray the characters. The blocking was done very well, and the characters really played well off of each other. Since its basically a lot of soliloquies - the non-singing actor did a great deal of non-verbal communication. It was great to see them interacting, and reacting to each other. And their duet was done so well. The emotions they achieved were amazing. Both actors did SPECTACULAR jobs! I was really impressed, and depending on my schedule next weekend (I know Saturday night is OUT), I might try to catch it again, if I'm free next Friday night.

One thing I wish they would have done was use a couple of extras. Just a pair. In one scene, Jamie is supposed to be talking to a buddy of his, and telling that he's falling in love with this girl (Cathy). Instead, he just sings to himself - which actually turned out to be a funny scene, as Jamie was climbing all over the furniture of the apartment. The second is a scene where Jamie has an affair. In this production, they just used the couch, and it looked like Jamie was singing to the pillow - and someone who didn't know they show, might actually think he was talking to Cathy - since he never gives this woman a name, instead using "pet names" for her in the song.

I understand the production was, more than likely, done on an insanely tight budget - which is why none of these changes or alterations caused me to not enjoy the show. I just, sadly, feel like certain parts of the story minorly suffered - because some audience members might not instantly be able to figure out what was going on.

I've done a lot of reading on the production, so it was interesting to see how this one was done. They changed a good number of things, but the story was still in tact, and that's the most important thing. Anyone who was seeing this for the first time (aside from being a little confused by the storytelling) would never know anything was changed.

The funniest change was that they added ten years to the characters age - to compensate for mildly older actors. They go from being "24" to "34" in one song, and "28" to "38" in another. It took a second, when it happened, just because I knew it was the wrong word in the song. Again, to anyone else, they wouldn't have any idea - it doesn't effect anything.

The one scene I was really looking forward to was "The Next Ten Minutes" - which is their duet in the middle of the production - and is supposed to include their wedding. While this might have been implied throughout the scene - it starts and finish in their apartment.

Another scene they changed involved changing a car ride to a train station. Okay, that's not a big deal.

Now, here is something I'm glad they altered: "The Next Ten Minutes" is supposed to be the first time they ever share the stage - and that's NOT how they did it tonight, and I liked it very much - the way they did it. While I can understand the "power" and "meaning" behind making this scene their first together - I liked seeing their interaction in other, previous, scenes.

ALTHOUGH, I think this answers one of my own questions: I was a little disappointed in costume design. The actors wore one outfit for the First Act, and a completely different one for the second. I wish they would have either stayed with the same costume - or changed them more often between scenes - which would be MUCH easier to do, if they had 4 to 5 minutes to change while the other actor was singing. The was it was done tonight, they exited for a brief second - while the other began their song, and then they quickly were back on stage, interacting. Again, the lack of costume changing didn't bother me, I just wish they would have stayed with the same costumes for the second half.

Speaking of the "first" and "second" halfs - I was surprised to see there was an intermission. Listening to the 14 songs on the CD, it only runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or so. And I've read that in other productions its done as a One Act. There were a few lines of spoken dialogue, which is missing from the CD, but not enough to make it that much longer. The show began at 8:00pm, it had a 15 minute intermission, and I was still in my car and on the road by 9:40pm. I suppose some of the other people needed to use the bathroom...?

There was only about 25 of us in the crowd. A group of 10 elderly women in the front row. A group of 10 elderly men and women in the back row. A young couple who sat DIRECTLY in front of me. A young lady and her grandmother (I assumed) who sat on the stage left wing. And then myself alone in the middle row. It's a fairly small theatre, with a small amount of seats, but it was nice and made you feel very close to the action. I felt very involved - as opposed to large venue, where I FEEL like all I'm doing is WATCHING.

It was amazing. It got the "theatre bug" going in me. I'm looking forward to seeing as many productions as I can over the next few weeks. Especially once we get into Christmas Season. it's my FAVORITE time of the year, and I'm going to support as many Christmas Productions as I can. Perhaps next year, I can get involved in some. Or, I can dust off that script I have for the "Christmas Flick" about a group of random families who get caught in a hospital ER room on Christmas Eve - when a blizzard hits, and knocks out all the power. It proves to be a very small town, as all of the people who are trapped realize that they interact with each other on a daily basis, but are too busy to notice each other. Eventually, they band together - and for the sake of the children - put on a Christmas Play. Romance, Forgiveness, and new Friendships all emerge from their snowed-in night. Last year, about this time, I had a great group of people lined up to try and shoot it. But, it didn't end up happening. And I didn't give it enough attention this year - to have it prepared to film. Maybe next year... right?