Week Eight 7/28 to 8/3

One more week. One more week. One more week.

I’m going home. I’m going home. I’m going home.

Can you tell I’m excited? This experience has been so much different than last year, but still as awesome. I came into this thinking it was going to be different. I came into this trying not to expect it to be as incredible as last year. I have to say that it was as incredible and different.

Doing three shows back to back almost killed me, but talk about craft. Without good craft I don’t think it’s possible to do summer rep. Or I should say, with out good craft it’s not possible to do good summer rep. What is craft? I say the balance of technique and truth. Technique you can learn and that's why one trains. Truth, is a God given gift.

This summer I have solidified by ties with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival. I’m sure I won’t be in a show every summer, though I probably could if I wanted to, but I am so happy to have an artistic home. I can come here and do what I do (Speed, a comedic character), with people I love to do it, and even stretch myself (Rosencrantz, not one laugh line).

I’m excited about coming back in October to do The Comedy of Errors at the Canton Players Guild. It’s going to be INSIDE!!!! INDOORS! I just shed a tear.

This week was pretty calm. Mostly because it’s the first of the month, which means expensive Chicago rent. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. But also, like I said in my last blog, I was starting to get out of control.

I can now understand why Elaine Stritch, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland and the like were such epic alcoholic and partiers. I’m proud to announce that through out the summer I never let my partying interfere with my work. I think that’s important.

Monday during the day Bret's mom had me over for dinner.  It was a very nice chill family time.  She said they are my Ohio family now.  It thought it was so nice.  Now I have two Ohio white families: the Coulborns and the Holdens.

Monday night, Dane L., Eric C. and I went to the usual Monday Hip-Hop nite at The Interbelt. I’ve been every Monday since I’ve been here, including tonight. However, this night turned out to be very unusual. When we got to the belt we were like, “What’s going on?” Both parking lots were full and the line to get in wrapped around the building. I said, “Naturally, everyone knows I’m almost leaving so they way to pay their respects.”

In line, I noticed that many girls were wearing swimming tops, to go out in. This isn’t really unusual in Akron, OH, but “so many” I thought. Then I saw a couple of boys with swimming trunks. It came to me. “Oh, fuck. Foam Party”

Yes, I was right. At first I was pissed off because the cover was 10 dollars. TEN DOLLARS!! IN OHIO, COME ON! Not even in fucken Chicago I pay 10 dollars. So I’m bitching about this for the first 30 mins of the nite at the club. “10 dollars?” “Seriously?” “Really?”

However, after the 27th hot, probably straight, shirtless guy with amazing abs and 4 coronas I said,

“I would have paid 20!”

I was wearing a very nice button down shirt from Express with trendy pants and black dress shoes. Yes, I got in the foam. Dane really wanted to. 

When I got out I said, “I think I just got pregnant.”

On Tuesday, I saw The Music Man at Porthouse Theater. It was fun. After the show there was an after party that I got invited to and that was fun too. It was just a fun night. Those Porthouse kids this summer were awesome. I hope I can do Porthouse again soon.

My camera is getting fixed and they say I should have it in 2 weeks. They’re going to mail it to Chicago.

Othello is coming along. Okay, honestly, our Othello is, um, well, not as strong as the rest of the cast. But in his defense everyone in the show has done their respective parts twice even three times. We’re kinda eating him up. It’ll be fine.....I hope.

Awe, I'm going to miss everyone so much.

When we got the places call at intermission Lara, who played Silvia and Ophelia, screams out loud: “PLACES, BITCHES!!!”

Dick who played Polonius, an old character actor, grabs my ass and whispers in my year, “Ernie, you must never forget the dignity of the theater.”

Last year, Dick was in The Comedy of Errors, and one time when Andrew C., Terry B. and I were hanging out Terry B. said, “God, isn’t Dick great.” Then I said, without missing a beat, “Hello, I’ve known that for years.”

I’m going to miss Buddy the stage manger and lighting guy how says things like “What’s the best part about fucking 27 year olds? There’re 20 of them.”
He also “hefted” my balls and dick at the last Jacuzzi cast party.

I’m going to miss Terry B.  When I was warming up for a show and Ben was in town he said, “Stretch that shit out. For the show and for TONIGHT.”

I’m going to miss Tess, we’re engaged now that’s how much we love each other.

I’m going to miss Dane, Eric, and Chris most of all. (What the fuck, am I Dorothy?) (Yes)

There is nothing better and being able to do what you love to do with people you love to do it with.


PS For Hamlet we had Mole night, Wink Night, Secret gesture night. And finally when Andrew (our Hamlet) found out how much I hate “the Shocker” hand thing. You know, “One in stink, two in the pink.” I hate this so much. Anyway, he flashed it to me on stage while he was talking to me. I almost lost it. Almost.