Work on the Play Day

“The Play’s The Thing!” you yelled, as you got out of bed this morning. Well, at least for today. Today, you’ll mostly be sitting in one place with manuscript, paper and pencil. Scribbling. Crossing out. Scribbling some more. Making notes, etc.

Yes, today is work-on-the-play day and it will be very interesting, since you’ve not looked at the thing for a long time due to other commitments. Certainly not since it was read by real actors with real people in the audience at the Pasadena Playhouse during the Summer, although you could not attend, due to being out of town. You wonder if it was as fun as the other public reading, and whether readings will ever be as magical to you as that first private one.

Looking at the manuscript with fresh eyes, you’ll form the opinion that it has become a bit off focus, and that you and your collaborator need to strip it down to the core, and simplify and focus it. Of course, the hardest part of this process may well be the task of convincing your collaborator of what you’re thinking, and why you think this is a good idea. Especially when your collaborator is the real playwright and you’re just a playwright impersonator. You may simply be wrong. How to be sure? Can you ever be sure? You reflect upon the fact that collaboration -in any field- is powerful and exciting, but sometimes hard. Not doubting for a moment that it’s an entirely worthwhile enterprise, you press on with the scribblings, and the crossings-out.

Anyway, the convincing is for your next meeting, to take place in a cafe somewhere in Echo Park. You hope that they serve strong liquor there, since it might be a powerful ally, and also wonder if your collaborator reads your blog.

Happy Work on the Play Day!

-cvj

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(With apologies, once again, to the excellent Girls are Pretty.)