Cloud Nine

Blah. One running penal joke with absolutely no substance. Granted, I have had debates with fellow students about the depth of the script itself, but this production seemed particularly juvenile. Much of my reaction may of course be based off of the pitiful reactions of the preview audience: laughter at every sex joke and at their friends in drag. I left at intermission and was so furious I had to re-read the script the next morning. How is it that we manage to turn out decent directors when the head of the directing program puts such trite on stage.

Churchill wrote specific casting choices into the script for a reason, but when the costumes and direction obscures the casting to the point where Betty might as well be a woman, Edward a boy and Joshua black, you completely miss the point. The opening song explains the casting choices, but between poor diction and the laughter it not heard. And New Theatre swallows all sound to begin with. The costumes and set were pretty. That about as far as it goes.I did get to make a pretty dress for a boy though. Between this, the girl's disguise in As You Like It and Audrey, crossdressing may become my specialty. And let us not forget Margery Pinchwife parades around in boys clothes in Country Wife too.

The next day the play caused some heated discussions in drawing practice. It started as an attack on our production...mostly because no one understood any of the play. I find Churchill fairly dated in many of her works, but usually there is some substantial point behind what she wrote. And unfortunately I think our director missed the boat and none of the cast or design team bothered to throw her a line.

On another note--I heard from my designer in regards to my internship. Finally. After 2 weeks. She had not returned my calls for fear of interfering with Country Wife. Despite being able to use my help these last 3 Fridays--he did not contact me. Despite my calling almost very other day asking what I could do, as I was still under her employ. So she may have screwed me over--now that Country Wife really is picking up, I cannot give her the time we agreed to, but I have yet to fulfill my requirement for a grade. Even if she is happy with my work. Of course none of the faculty will tell me if I am indeed in fear of probation or an incomplete until portfolio review a month and a half from now.