Danger, Will Robinson!

[mrdreamjeans]

During yesterday's dress rehearsal, I felt like the robot on "Lost in Space", frantically flailing his arms around in warning as danger surrounded him. The opening number of "Wonderful Town", "Christopher Street" is actually a ballet. In the show, we bring the odd artsy types of 1935 Greenwich Village to life for a group of tourists. All but three members of our cast of 37 are moving quickly around the stage and out on the passerel during the number.

Toward the end of "Christopher Street", Officer Lonigan re-enters the scene and judges an art contest. Appopulous, a Greek painter who imagines himself another Picasso, offers me a bribe which I discretely accept; however, I turn the tables on him and select another artist's work as the winner. (I prefer to think that Lonigan is collecting evidence by taking the money:) The mini-scene climaxes when the rejected Appopulous smashes his canvas painting over my head.

Yesterday, things went a bit array ... When Appopulous (David Pichette) hit me with the painting, part of the wood frame hit the front of my police hat, smashing the brim down into the bridge of my nose, scraping and cutting it. I stood in the middle of the whirling stage for a second, a bit stunned, then slowly moved offstage when I realized that no one was going to stop the number. It took a few minutes to stop the bleeding and stage management immediately brought me ice. I'm fine, though I had a headache for hours. So now my make-believe Irish police officer has mutton chops, a mustache and a cut on his nose:)

The set design for "Wonderful Town" evokes New York and Greenwich Village through the use of picture postcards, awash in bright primary colors. The costumes also reflect this philosophy. Here's the Christopher Street post card and one of New York City. Enjoy! Our first public performance is tomorrow night!

Comments

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your nose! You'll just do anything to look authentic!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Now, if I can just find time to go out to the Cuff with the new look:)

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

Lord, child, do we need to put a nose guard on you or what? :)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Well, it doesn't look too bad after the fact, but we are going to rehearse it every night before curtain:)

[abearius.livejournal.com]

Art is dangerous to the police and otehr agents of the State.

Hope you get better! Be careful!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Indeed! The first two times we did the bit it went just fine, so the accident was even more unexpected. Now, to get some foam in the inside of the hat so any impact is absorbed.

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

Ow.....the things we have to suffer through for our art!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Yep! Happily, I only have to go out on the passerel one time during the show. If you remember, I fell into the orchestra pit in front of 3000 people in Houston in 2003 during "The Wizard of Oz" where we used one:)

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I'm still having a hard time picturing you with just the 'stache and mutton chops. :-)

Sorry to hear about da nose dahlink, you'll survive it all I'm sure.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The only difference, between the new look and my beard, is that my chin is visible:) Fortunately, unless there's a bad camera angle, there's only one! *grin*

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

Good luck...

My favorite NYC street...Oh and

such interesting people live on Christopher Street.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Such interesting people live on Christopher Street.

I get the painting canvas smashed over my head right after that line is interjected, just before the big finish to the number:)

Hmm... are you also understudying for...

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

The football hero? Hope the nose is better soon.

Breaking a nose isn't quite the same as breaking your leg in the theatre!

Hugs. Wish I could see the finished product.

Re: Hmm... are you also understudying for...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

No understudies are used on this contract. Too bad, as the football number ..."I Could Pass a Football" has a football team and cheerleaders magically appearing in Ruth and Eileen's Greenwich Village apartment. The team comes out of the armoire and the cheerleaders out of the kitchen:)

Ps ... My nose is fine ..a day after, there's only a scrape and slight cut ... Maybe it knocked some sense into me:) Wish you could see the show too!! HUGS!

[becker-boy.livejournal.com]

LOL...and who said that art does not come with a price?

WOW, man....incredible story (especially loved the robot illusion...picturing you flailing your arms about yelling: Danger...danger...)

Darn it —to be in the other corner of the country!...your photos and stories make me wish I could see the show.

Play well and be safe....or, as my mama would say: "Don't make me have to come up there and take you to the hospital!" (LOL)

(hugs)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's just one of those moments that unexpectedly happens ... a slight miscalculation. If you have the time, I wrote about falling into the orchestra pit in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2003... The post is called "Winkie in the Pit". Also, back in November of 2004, the guy playing Che in our tour of "Evita" fell headfirst into the pit during a performance in Chicago and I wrote about the dangers of being on stage and how much actors have to rely on each other and the crew. My boo-boo is nothing really ... just took me by surprise and gave me a headache. We are going to practice the stunt nightly before the show:) HUGS!

[becker-boy.livejournal.com]

Don't tell anyone but I wasn't TOO worried (wink).

You will have to show me how to pull up an old post of yours. Since I betcha anything it's a feature only "paid" members can use, I will fix that problem later today. I always had it in mind to pay for a year of LJ on my birthday in order to make it easier to remember to renew it (or NOT) when the year was up.

Let me be the first to say Happy Birthday to you (it's 12:45 here). I'm guessing that today will be a busy one (can't recall if you have a performance tonight) but even so, may it be filled with simple reminders that just as this day is special to you, that you are special to others, whether they are there working with you in the production, or waiting back home in Texas.

Y'know, it kinda wierd...I don't think I ever have wished someone a Happy Birthday ON my birthday before. I think I kinda like it..... (grin)

(hugs)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

And a great big Happy Birthday to you too! I just returned from our first public performance. It went very well and the audience cheered and cheered! (We like that:) We have a five hour rehearsal tomorrow afternoon and the second preview at 7:30pm. So, our birthday will spent on stage:) May your special day be celebrated in style, surrounded by friends and loved ones! HUGS!

[crunchmd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like the idea of a cut on your nose...it adds character and realism!

But I'm actually sorry you got banged up. Maybe next time you should vote for his painting?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! I should jokingly tell David that. I'll just vote for Appopulis' painting and nothing bad has to happen:)

[alpenhorn.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Take care of the honker. We only have one....well, most of us.
TOI TOI TOI for opening night!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes! We stage the bows at noon today and began an orchestra dress at 12:40pm. Tonight's the first preview. Official opening's on Thursday night. My special guest arrives tomorrow night on my birthday!!! YAY! HUGS!

LOL

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

W-H-Y do these things happen to YOU all the time? :0) Kiss that nose in hope to make it better! I tell you, the professional hazards of this profession you chose! Lucky it did'nt deform anything. Hope there's insurance for this? I'm tempted to say "break a leg!" for tomorrow but I'm afraid! So, bonne chance, ever so softly!

Re: LOL

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

These things happen to actors and dancers all of the time. You just happen to be friends with someone who writes about the incidents that happen to him. *grin*

Thanks for the good wishes! After this afternoon, it's off to the races! I hope the show sells well, as I think it's an audience-pleaser! HUGS!

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

So I guess the Greek profanity I taught him the other week came in handy!

Glad you're OK!

Hugs

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'll ask David if he uses your phrases when he hits me with the canvas:) On the other hand ... after being hit, maybe I should know the Greek curses instead... LOL! Hugs!

[theatrecub79.livejournal.com]

You must suffer for your art, my friend! LOL

Sorry to hear about the nose. I am glad it wasn't too serious though.

This show does indeed sound "wonderful." If I could get out there, I would love to come see it. :-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It is going to be pretty "wonderful"! I love the dances that have been created, especially the Vortex Ballet. The 5th Avenue Theatre has a great stable of dancers to bring them vividly (and sexily) to life!

I'm fine with the nose! It's funny though how much just a small cut and scrape can bleed when it's the bridge of your nose. We were too busy when it happened even to work the sympathy vote. We just had to move forward:)

[anothertxn.livejournal.com]

I always figure blood just illustrates the level of dedication. And that you got hit with something. Happy healing.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! Perhaps! Tonight, I got the Irish jig dance correct for the first time, but kicked myself in the shin and took a chunk out of my leg. I've got to learn how to do this stuff without getting hurt. *grin* I've only been at it 26 years! Good to hear from you! HUGS!

[anothertxn.livejournal.com]

Ah, pain fun. When I have no cuts, bruises, or marks I wonder what the hell I've been doing for the past few days. As for the return, well, I always felt weird doing the journal whlie seeing someone. Now I'm back in the fold. Hope all goes well.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that your relationship ended, but happy to have you here in the fold for as long as you like. HUGS!