March 10th

I put ‘morning’ in quotes cause it’s 3:30p. I got up at noon to walk Tulea for her 4th birthday but I’m going back to bed as soon as I write this. First of all, gotta tell you: I cut out the NYT review for my scrapbook AND DIDN’T READ IT!!! Talk about discipline!!! I felt like an addict who’s been clean and sober, washing out someone’s hash pipe and not even taking a whiff. But last night, in the throes of the post opening bash, Eve Ensler made me promise I wouldn’t read any of the reviews—so I can’t. Not till it’s all over. As I said the other day in my blog, all of us in the cast know it’s a deep, strong play and that we are a powerful ensemble so whatever anyone else says or writes, we hold this in our hearts.

What a fun party it was! So many friends and well wishers. I was too preoccupied with the fun of it all to think of twittering. Rachel, my assistant, took some video (boy does she clean up good!!—a knock out!) and I may include it in a later blog depending on how well it turned out. But here are some pix from backstage in my dressing room right after. I have to laugh at me next to Dolly. She’s sooo white and I’m so—brown (To mention but one of the differences).

Credit: Bruce Glikas 2009

With Eve Ensler

With Rosie

Tonight is the opening of Colin Hank’s new film which I am going to with Troy and Simone…if I can catch some more Zzzzzzzz.

With Troy

With Troy and my step mother, Shirlee Fonda

With Troy, Shirlee, Nathalie

See you next time.

Last night James Andrews came over after rehearsal and stayed for 3 hours working with me and my new Assistant, Rachel Brenna, on my blog design. James is the one who convinced me to do a blog. He is a saint to have done this after traveling for days to San Francisco for the MacWorld convention and then to Memphis for a client and not getting much sleep and having to leave for his home in Atlanta at the crack the next morning. He’s been away from his family for almost a week. Thank you, Saint James!

We rehearsed the first scenes again and I feel I am getting closer to what Moises wants. It felt rather good. At least in that first scene I am beginning to move into Katherine’s skin. Then we had another session with the music director before staging the scene where we all sing the Kyrie Eleison from Beethoven’s Mass in C. While we rehearsed the chorus, Tulea sat in the front row next to Linda Marvel (stage manager) and watched as though she was a producer.

I never realized that “Kyrie Eleison” is a plea to God to grant mercy. I sing it from what is supposed to be the table of an MRI machine while Tulea lay between my legs.

Once we put the song in context and Moises explained what he wanted from me it all fell into place. I understand why I’ve been told audiences find it so moving. It’s not easy to sing while you’re crying. Singing for me is a scary proposition but to sing while crying! I need to figure this one out.

Moises invited all of us for a drink to celebrate the end of the first week of rehearsal. It was a splendid idea and so I cancelled my Pilates lesson. Jeff Lahoste, Moises’s partner, joined us and brought me a gift: The first season of “Mad Men”! I have been wanting to watch it because so many friends have told me how good it but I normally don’t stay up that late. (Added incentives are how good looking Jon Hamm, the lead actor is and the fact that January Jones was my son’s love interest in “Bandits.” Troy knew she would go places and I want to see more of her work).

This evening was a fun and fitting ending to the week… and the drinks were great.

See you next time.