Jay Croft » A Streetcar Named Desire (2008)

End of Streetcar

jcroft — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:03:03 +0000

This past weekend was the final weekend of A Streetcar Named Desire. This has not been one of my favorite plays. I just did not like my development of MITCH. MITCH is a little naive, but I think I took that too far and also made him not very smart. But with lines like (to BLANCH) “Guess how much I weigh…. My weight is not a very interesting subject to talk about. What’s yours?” and “…in all my experiences, I’ve never known anyone like you. (BLANCH begins to laugh) Are you laughing at me?”, it was very hard to see him as intelligent, but naive.

Maybe that is correct. I don’t know. I can’t see myself and so am dependent on what others say. I did not receive any bad criticism, so it must have been OK.

Oh well. I can still say that JOEL from Beau Jest is still my favorite role.

What I Did On 2008-10-17

jcroft — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

Interesting. My new co-worker was a theatre major, now working as a tech writer. #
Hello, Friday. #
Four more shows left of Streetcar and then break down the set on Sunday and then I can rest somewhat. #
I really like TAGS. #
Wish I could tag more stuff. #

What I Did On 2008-10-12

jcroft — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

@the_brian_jones. that is unfortunate. Streetcar is having really small audiences as well. sigh. #

What I Did On 2008-10-10

jcroft — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

@the_brian_jones. Break a leg!! Thanks for coming to the show last night. #
RT @the_brian_jones: Got the SP gig! <– Congratulation!! #
US debt clock runs out of digits. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7660409.stm #
Wall Street has lost more than 20% of its value in ten days. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7662572.stm #
biggest weekly falls since it was created 112 years ago. NOW can we get rid of Republicans and Democrats? Voting for McBama is more of same. #
Tokyo’s shares plunged 24% during the week, double their weekly fall during the 1987 market crash #
World Markets are crashing people! Its OUR fault for electing those Republican-Democrat idiots. Take this quiz: http://tinyurl.com/4mou99 #
Yes, I am an idiot. My speling is aaful. #
@crazeegeekchick Thank you. Nice cartoon picture of you on that board game. #
On the bright side of the Global Economic collapse, Oil prices are at a 13 month low. #
Republicans-Democrats out of the office now! Quiz yourself to make sure you believe that:http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html #
For my followers, sorry about the repeated link. Just want people see what party they actually believe in. And then vote for their beliefs. #
Notice I have said who I am voting in. I think it does not matter. I am voting the way I believe, NOT for the lesser of two evils. #
Just make sure you believe in the party that
you think you believe in. http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html #
You know, Followers sounds so Jim Jones religious. What is a better term for “the people mildly interested in what I say” #
Got my blog updated with new theme and looked at it on Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome and IE7. IE7 is the only one that has an issue. damnit #
@crazeegeekchick. Me too. Actually I want a tattoo. I think I am going to have my cats portraits done. #
Another long weekend: Streetcar-Fri, Sat(x2), Sun; BrightFlames rehearsal – Sat & Sun morning, Mon & Tue Evening. I Can sleep in 1.5 weeks. #
Off to dinner then the Threatre. #

What I Did On 2008-10-09

jcroft — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

there have been several thefts of catalytic converters from underneath automobiles at our office. weird. #
#election quiz http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html. Yes it is spam, but people should vote for what the believe, not lesser evil. #
10:30 AM and I am hungry. crap. #
My rubber bank holding my battery to the phone is falling apart. Need to find another one. #
band even #
No, it is not a little rubber piggy bank holding my phone together. Just a simple rubber band, man. #
Good God!! I need to loose some weight. Why are you lying to me Blanch? http://www.newdawntheatercompany.com/images/DSC04358.jpg #
Cast of A Streetcar Named Desire http://www.newdawntheatercompany.com/images/DSC04261.jpg #
Speaking of Streetcar, show tonight at 8PM. Hope we have an audience. Hope the Republican-Democrat economic mess does not keep people away. #

Streetcar Opening Weekend in Review

jcroft — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:18:25 +0000

Thursday night was canceled
Friday night was an actor’s nightmare
Saturday matinee had only 1 attendee
Saturday night was fantastic
Sunday matinee was not bad ether

OK. The details:

Thursday night, I have already mentioned. I will add other statements I have heard: The 2 people that did arrive asked to come back another night; And that no one was turned away at the door. I don’t know what is true or not. There are always 3 sides to every story – Yours, Mine and the Truth.

Friday night was an actor’s nightmare. We had an audience of around 30. But not only did they laugh at the humorous spots (which is good) but at everything else. At some point it seemed to me like a TV show about stage acting, where the actors on stage are SO BAD but do not realize they are bad. The audience is laughing at them and not with them. I became actually afraid to say my lines for the reaction they may provoke. Besides the laughter was the running commentary and repeating of lines by the audience members.

It turns out that there were some audience members were drunk. Three ladies apparently had liquor in their purses and were adding it to their drinks. Late in the play, I could here the shushing of one audience member to others.

The entire cast, well some of the cast, were frustrated with the audience. But what choice did we have. To use the cliche “The Show must go on”. We finished, we bowed and then I bolted.

Saturday Matinee only had 1 attendee. Only one!! OK, well two if you count one of New Dawn board members who attended. So we did the show. How could we not after Thursday’s fiasco. It was a good performance.

After that, most of the cast and crew went across the street to Steverino’s Pizzeria for an early dinner (or late lunch). Then back across the street for the evening show.

Saturday Evening had about 30 people or so, including my biggest fans, mom and dad. Saturday night rocked! The audience, unlike Friday’s, was very reposive to the funny bits and the dramatic bits. No laughing in unusual spots. No running commentary. Emotions were right on. Nearly a perfect night.

This made me feel a lot better about the run. The first three shows were a cancelation, bad audience and then a single attendee. To have a near perfect night made me feel better and made me think that yes, we will have audiences and good audiences at that.

The Sunday Matinee just confirmed that. Not as large a crowed as Saturday evening, but they were very responsive. Even received a standing ovation.

Well two weekends with 10 shows left.

What I Did On 2008-10-05

jcroft — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

Tonight’s performance of Streetcar was OMG good! Will blog about the weekend tomorrow or Monday. show and audition tomorrow. #

What I Did On 2008-10-04

jcroft — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

All I have to say about tonight’s opening: Nightmare!! Will blog about it when I am more rational. #

What I Did On 2008-10-03

jcroft — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:59:59 +0000

@ginayates Many Thanks! #
Leaving in 45 min, eat, then go to the theatre for, hopefully, an opening night. Then 2 shows and meeting on Sat, show and audition on Sun. #
Think I will tweet for the next 30 minutes. Ready… go… #
OK. So I am using Twitter Tools on my website. It collects all these tweets and makes a daily post (optional). The down side is.. Next >> #
<> #
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So much for 30 minutes worth of tweeettiiinnng #
The wife is at @Teavana in Perimeter Mall, picking up some Spicy Nut Mate Tea for me. #
@crazeegeekchick What is that? #
quitin’ time… food… play… bye #
Here I sit, taking a .. rest break from dinner. rest from dinner? Eten food shore is hard work. #
Cats are enjoying the deck. Hate to have to herd them in, but I need to leave in a few for the Theatre #

A False Start

jcroft — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:28:47 +0000

Last nights performance of A Streetcar Named Desire was canceled. At about 5 minutes to curtain, the director and cast received word that Red Clay decided to cancel the show. I don’t believe anyone got a good explanation. Apparently there were only two people who booked ahead of time and showed up. And there was proof of at least one person being turned away with rumors of more.

This upset several cast members as well as the New Dawn Theatre Company Board Members for several reasons: First, New Dawn believes is should be the choice of New Dawn and not Red Clay; Second, the actors were willing to perform for 2 or two hundred. Third, those few could potentially induce others to come see the show… or not see the show.

And Finally, because we had not “Opened” yet, it turned into another night of rehearsal. The entire cast and crew was going to be there anyway. If this was not the official opening it would have been a rehearsal and indeed it turned out to be one.

Besides, could it have hurt to have that ticket money in the pocket? Will those people who were turned away even come back? What is there impression of being asked to leave? Will our heroes even get to perform? Stay tuned.

Really, in the end for last nights fiasco, the fault falls with both Red Clay and New Dawn. Both should have done everything they could to get the word out. I don’t know that they didn’t, but I have not seen evidence that they have ether.

This was a first for me, as far as I can remember. I have performed shows where the cast was larger than the audience, but we still performed. I do hate having small audiences, but at least they were there. They made an effort to come see us and so we performed.

I am used to having small audiences. It happens that way during a run: you can have a large audience one night and a small one the next. But having a show canceled. Now I am worried that all the shows will have a small audience or that another night might be canceled. Not good. It makes me wonder whether I want to work with ether of these groups again. Not only the people who were turned away have a bad impression, but now I do as well.

Anyway, we will try again tonight. Fingers crossed.