Well here we are, the day before we move into the theatre and I’m anticipating great things. I’ve attended rehearsal the last two days and saw the cast come together. They have taken on their roles and have created superior individual characters that audiences, I am confident, will identify with. Last night I found myself participating more like an audience member rather than the writer of the play. I took some notes and the protocol has been, talk to Jane privately and then she shares some if not all with the cast. Most of my notes have been questions rather than criticisms and harks back to the creative choices artists are making.

At the end of the night, we had to clear out of the room and pack the props away. In Blue, firewood is an important prop and we have a lot of it. We were unable to keep the firewood in the building so while Jane was giving notes to the actors, our stage manager and sound guy gathered the wood and carried it over to Jane’s place for safekeeping. Jane lives nearby and it was great to know that we were all pitching in one way or another. Our stage manager Waleed is a young guy who is doing this for the experience and he’s been such a help. Corrie’s a friend who I have worked with in the past and has always been dependable. Everyone does their part and more and we’ve created a real community a long the way.

Anyone who does theatre or film knows the kind of work that goes into putting a “show” together. And often times it’s done for close to nothing (I’m talking money here). Maybe you have to be a bit crazy to do it – I’m not sure. Or maybe you just have to really, really love it. I think a little of both helps. You love it so much that people think you’re crazy. Don’t get me wrong. It’s hard work…acting, writing, directing and they all require a lot of patience. I asked someone recently: “Do you write?” His response was “no”. My response back was: “Good for you”. And I actually meant it. There are days when the creative juices have no juice left and those are the days you wonder, why am I doing this? But then a brilliant idea strikes, like lightening in the sky, and there is no greater feeling for an artist when you are connecting with something that is beyond you.

This is what I see from my director Jane and the cast mates that make up Blue. They are connecting intimately to the work and it becomes something bigger than themselves. Blue is so much about the struggle of the human spirit and conquering through the doubts and fears we have as humans. If as creators we can tap into that reality and share it with an audience, than we have done our part….and it is such a pleasure to do so.