Early this morning I headed out to Costa Mesa again. My friend, Madison, who is in the Amy Freed play that they're doing at South Coast Rep (they closed today), invited me to a play reading that they had at 11am for the new play by Richard Greenberg called Safe in Houses. I was glad I went, not only to see my friend, but also to hear the new play. I love being a part of stuff like this: burgeoning ideas and plays that are still in their early stages. The play has some great bits and has a lot of promise. It's nowhere near the re-invention of theatre and innovation that was Take Me Out, but it's a play with a lot of really wonderful things in it. It definitely has some great characters (the actors were wonderful) and the ending for Act One is spot-on. There are two more acts, and some people seemed to think this was a problem, but the play wasn't too long for me. Richard Greenberg writes my kind of theatre, though. It's exactly the kind of play I can sit through for six hours or so. Engaging characters, a total attention to language, and a political and theatrical sensibility that is very intellectual. Safe in Houses does have problems, though. Chief among them are its title--what does that even mean?--and the ending. My problem with the ending is the character of Scott Tim. I didn't get to know him at all, and felt no real affection for him, whereas I was fiercely attached to the other characters. The play ends with Tim and because I don't know him/understand him/care about him, for me the ending doesn't work. I guess I can shut up now about this play that no one but me has read. But I look forward to seeing what they will do with it next year at SCR.
This actor in Safe in Houses was so great: his name is Adam Scott and I was very attracted to him. I researched him on the 'net, but there isn't much about him. He was in Torque and A.I. He will also be in The Aviator and the Jane Fonda movie Monster-in-Law. Anyway, his performance was really something. I was very impressed. He played the Aaron character so very well. This is why I think Greenberg's such an amazing playwright and why I personally like him so much. In his plays there is always a character who I identify with a great deal. There aren't many playwrights like this for me.
Worked some more on Shrew tonight. Hopefully a concept comes to me soon. Actually, what I keep seeing is a beach setting like that series of episodes when Saved by the Bell is at that resort for the whole summer. I'll have to think about it more. I hate to get weighed down by concept, but this beach idea might be sexy and have some good laughs.
Laughs are really the most important thing. Sexy comes second, though. I still haven't talked to Zamora. Should I be worried? Where is this guy? Is he organizing the audition days? When is he gonna tell me? Hopefully tomorrow.
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