I'm also looking forward very much to having some of my favorite actors and friends in the house this coming Sunday to give "Reunions" an out-loud read-through. Always fun, and always informative about a script-in-progress.
In the meantime, we got to travel northwards to D.C. and see two plays on this immediate past Thursday and Saturday.
First, our son Andy worked as associate lighting designer on a brand-new musical being presented at Ford's Theatre, called "Liberty Smith." First, I will say I enjoyed the concept: a young man in the time of the Revolutionary War -- and the "what if" proposition was, what if some of the events credited to certain well-known individuals by history were actually suggested, or aided, or done by an uncredited individual. What if Paul Revere, for instance, was too inebriated to make his famous ride -- and Liberty Smith did it in his place? I'll give no more away, but it's a fun idea.
Anyhow, the voices and the music generally were quite excellent; sets, costumes, lighting, sound, ditto. Concept generally well presented, though some of the silliness could have been cut to make the show 15 minutes shorter, and a distance better. We enjoyed, though.
Secondly, we made our long-awaited trek to the newly-renovated Arena Stage and saw Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." I thought it was awesome -- all four actors strong, and especially the leads Amy Morton (Martha) and Tracy Letts (George). Very well done. And absorbing. It's a bit confusing to me, and to critics in D.C. and NYC, why no one raised their hand and took this production to New York. But right now, anyway, it doesn't seem to be happening. Curious.
