Problems Continue To Mount

*The following was written on May 30th 2012*

Another week, another disaster. This time two-pronged. I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried…

Regular Winedarkers will know that productions always run from Wednesday until Saturday. L.A. Blues, however, is only running from Thursday until Saturday. The reason? The venue has another event on on the Wednesday. This is itself is not a major problem. When we produced Love in the Time of Social Networking, we were unable to use the theatre on the eve of the production. That time, though, we were able to rig our tech beforehand and leave it up. This time is different.

You see, the event taking place in the Cobalt Café the day before we open is a wedding. That means we have to clear everything out on the Tuesday. All set, all lighting equipment. Everything. I understand why the management are demanding it. My question is, has anyone asked the bride and groom? I mean, who wouldn’t want a 1940s style cabaret bar set and matching lighting as a part of their wedding day? Honestly.

So we have a get-in on the Bank Holiday weekend and a dress rehearsal on the Tuesday night, before clearing out completely to leave the space empty for the Wednesday and coming back on the Thursday to start the show. The gap of a day doesn’t bother me. In fact, I have always been of the opinion that too many run-throughs can actually spoil a production. Let the cast and crew have a day of rest (yes, director’s are god-like). If the play still needs work the day before it opens, you’re in more trouble than one more run-through can fix. No, the problem isn’t the gap. It is that fact that on the day we open, we have maximum three and a half hours to completely build and dress the set and rig and focus the lights. Never have I been involved in a production that has had such a short get-in time and such a small crew to do it. Freaking out doesn’t cover it. But my team assure me that it is not only possible but that it is ‘grand’. I hope for all our sakes it is.

That’s prong one. Prong two is that out usual lighting operator, the guy who operated the lights for the last run and who knows the cues, is unavailable for the duration of our get-in. So we need another new person to get involved. That’s right, more change! To be frank, I can do it myself and it is looking increasingly likely that I will have to. But I would really rather not. So if you are a lighting operator or you know one, please do get in touch with us and come onboard. I can guarantee that you will have fun. We can be contacted on 086-0591346 or at neonfringe@gmail.com.

Come and join us.