Down the Drain
As I stated...I love the rain. The theatre however, or at least the space the theatre inhabits, does not.
We are entering rainy season. Our winter. Torrents of water at times. Today was our initiation into the wet weather. The rain did not let up all day. When such a sheer amount of wetness seeps from the sky, clean up commences. Usually it starts with the tents covering our outdoor box office area. The tents set up tend to pool the water instead of shedding it. As a result the thin frame supporting the canopy collaspes under the weight. This has happened a number of times. Anytime any large amount of water falls from the sky in fact. You'd think after having to replace these canopies several times over the couse of the season, someone would wise up and purchase canopies that actaully shed the water instead of colelcting it. But of course we are talking about the same group of people that do not fix out power suplly issue until the fire department shuts us down.
But the canopies are really only a minor inconveince. The bigger problem is the flooding. You'd think in Hawaii the water has a place to go. We are an island. A mountian at that. In theory the water should all flow downward and into the ocean. Humanity provides an obstical to this natural solution...concrete, asphalts and basements. Drainage is not present on the island. The few grates we do have tend to clog easily and flood the surrounding area. And with the prevelance of concrete the water has not where to be absorded...pooling and puddling until either the drains clear of the sun does its work.
The office and green rooms of the theatre are in the basment, below the stage itself. So while the theatre tends to stay dry, albeit moist, our workspace suffers. We have one exterior door to the office...down a stairwell lined in concrete. At the bottom of the stairs is a 5' by 5' landing with one small 6" drain. A drain which is of course clogged. The water has no where to go as last time I checked it cannot climb the stairs up to the parking lot and out to the street. So if follows the path of least resistance and seeps under the office door to be sopped into the carpet. Our production manager's response? It's been that way since he's been here.
So fix the problem!!!
Despite the damp, spirits were high for tech today. Cold, but high. All of my notes or of the trim and detail work. The kids love the clothes, as do the adults and the director. Some of the younger ones are a bit of a handful. Tiny Tim is in constant need of attention whether on or off the stage, causing him to wander about in the house or onto the stage during a scene to summon a response. Another cannot stop playing with her crown causing it to slip off her head taking the wig with it...12 bobby pins and all. Poor girl. As soon as it started slipping you coud see the horror and embarassment on her face. And my favorite...the boy whose shirt refuses to stay tucked in. Also the same boy who refuses to wear undergarments. While public embarassment works well with aduts, such a move can be scarring to someone so young. A quite whispered reimnder to a parent is the best I can usually do.
Tomorrow I have a full day to work on notes without disruption. As well as all Monday morning. And we are still a week out from our first public performance.
After Christmas Carol? One more show for the children's theatre which does not open until May. I'm sure I'll find something to occupy my time.
We are entering rainy season. Our winter. Torrents of water at times. Today was our initiation into the wet weather. The rain did not let up all day. When such a sheer amount of wetness seeps from the sky, clean up commences. Usually it starts with the tents covering our outdoor box office area. The tents set up tend to pool the water instead of shedding it. As a result the thin frame supporting the canopy collaspes under the weight. This has happened a number of times. Anytime any large amount of water falls from the sky in fact. You'd think after having to replace these canopies several times over the couse of the season, someone would wise up and purchase canopies that actaully shed the water instead of colelcting it. But of course we are talking about the same group of people that do not fix out power suplly issue until the fire department shuts us down.
But the canopies are really only a minor inconveince. The bigger problem is the flooding. You'd think in Hawaii the water has a place to go. We are an island. A mountian at that. In theory the water should all flow downward and into the ocean. Humanity provides an obstical to this natural solution...concrete, asphalts and basements. Drainage is not present on the island. The few grates we do have tend to clog easily and flood the surrounding area. And with the prevelance of concrete the water has not where to be absorded...pooling and puddling until either the drains clear of the sun does its work.
The office and green rooms of the theatre are in the basment, below the stage itself. So while the theatre tends to stay dry, albeit moist, our workspace suffers. We have one exterior door to the office...down a stairwell lined in concrete. At the bottom of the stairs is a 5' by 5' landing with one small 6" drain. A drain which is of course clogged. The water has no where to go as last time I checked it cannot climb the stairs up to the parking lot and out to the street. So if follows the path of least resistance and seeps under the office door to be sopped into the carpet. Our production manager's response? It's been that way since he's been here.
So fix the problem!!!
Despite the damp, spirits were high for tech today. Cold, but high. All of my notes or of the trim and detail work. The kids love the clothes, as do the adults and the director. Some of the younger ones are a bit of a handful. Tiny Tim is in constant need of attention whether on or off the stage, causing him to wander about in the house or onto the stage during a scene to summon a response. Another cannot stop playing with her crown causing it to slip off her head taking the wig with it...12 bobby pins and all. Poor girl. As soon as it started slipping you coud see the horror and embarassment on her face. And my favorite...the boy whose shirt refuses to stay tucked in. Also the same boy who refuses to wear undergarments. While public embarassment works well with aduts, such a move can be scarring to someone so young. A quite whispered reimnder to a parent is the best I can usually do.
Tomorrow I have a full day to work on notes without disruption. As well as all Monday morning. And we are still a week out from our first public performance.
After Christmas Carol? One more show for the children's theatre which does not open until May. I'm sure I'll find something to occupy my time.
posted by Unknown at
11:40 PM
1 Comments:
My dog is in constant need of attention too: although he usually drags stuff out of the trash can or pees on the floor. The solution is to ignore him, but it's hard to ignore a shredded maxipad. Arg. Love him! He's a handful.
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