DAVID PLANCHE, SPENCER STREICHERT, ALEXANDRA MILNE, CRAIG MARTIN, PAT PARISELLI
The above photo was taken on the first day of rehearsals for ANIMAL back in September when we gathered together to meet and read the play. Along with this group of actors, director Evelyn Long, AD Lucy Collingwood and Stage Manager Leslie Ann Walcott took what was written on the page and brought it to life on the stage. ANIMAL ran for 6 performances November 21-25 and I watched all the performances (or maybe I should say I watched audiences watch the performances). After years of work on this play and hearing many different actors participate in countless readings, it was a great thrill and hugely satisfying to finally witness ANIMAL come together in a full production. Thank you to the Alumnae Theatre (producers Molly Thom and Liz Best), who provided this opportunity to explore a challenging subject matter.
In watching the performances with audiences, I wanted to get a sense of what resonated and what needed more work from a script point of view. What dramatic moments popped and which ones fell flat. These last couple weeks, I’ve spent time reflecting and looking back. These reflections often inform my path moving forward. Opening night, I had a painful epiphany – painful because of the realization that another draft of ANIMAL was needed. On the second performance, that feeling was reconfirmed and informed my decisions as to what changes I’m considering in the next draft. I would love to be done with this play, but when I can see a greater potential with the plot/story and the fractured characters, I can’t help but revisit it. This production provided a clearer vision of what will come next. That’s a big deal. That’s something to embrace and celebrate. It’s exciting to take the challenge and move on.
For now, I’m letting ANIMAL breathe. I’m taking a break, letting go of the play before I do battle again with the text. Passion for this play – for writing – often leads to obsession (thus, it’s important to step back and take stock). My hope is ANIMAL will reach wider audiences as the subject of mental illness needs a voice. I was so encouraged by this premiere production that I know deep down inside an even better script is waiting to be mined.
In the meantime, I am digging back into a screenplay which I began re-writing months ago, outlining a 3rd draft of this script called LET IT SHINE. 
This story is polar opposite to ANIMAL. LET IT SHINE is a family film – a sprawling tale of love, faith and sacrifice that spans years in the life of one family as seen through the eyes of its youngest member – a precocious child whose extraordinary bond with her unpredictable, compassionate older brother teaches her that in order to stand out, one must not be afraid to shine. It’s kind of refreshing to work on something that is much lighter and has a totally different tone and style to ANIMAL. LET IT SHINE is a story about finding your light, of overcoming your fears and of stepping in to help others who are disadvantaged. Like ANIMAL, the theme of finding hope (and healing) in the darkest places is explored in LET IT SHINE.
Here’s to all of us finding our light and squashing fears that stop us from shining in this complicated, perplexing, surprising, often joyful and definitely unpredictable thing we call life. Live on!
Speak Your Mind