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Jan

Random Thursday

I’m recovered from the January plague! It took two days off sick, a lot of Inspector Lynley mysteries, and countless cups of tea, but I’m better. Yay! And also boo: It’s like 20 degrees outside and I just wanna curl up with a blanket and my snuggly cat and a good book and some brownies. But no, I am at work, and when I go home, I cannot make brownies because I am trying to yank out my sweet tooth. I am bridesmaiding in April and I do not want to look at pics of myself next to the other, toothpick-size bridesmaid and cringe. (Steve: "But a broomstick looks fat next to her. AIR looks fat next to her!") Let’s be honest, I know it’s more important to be active and heart-healthy, but vanity is my real motivation here. I wanna fit back into those size sixes. Also, I must read terrible scripts tonight. I...

Jan

Question Friday: Adaptation Edition

Jessica

Pride & Prejudice: BBC OR Keira Knightley version? Hamlet: Kenneth Branagh’s OR Mel Gibson’s? Bond: Brosnan, Connery, OR Craig? Teen edition: 10 Things I Hate About You OR Clueless? American Classic: Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch OR Robert Redford as Gatsby? Bonus theatre geek question: Branagh’s Midsummer Night’s Dream OR Much Ado About Nothing? Share your favorites in the comments.

Jan

How Theatre Failed America

Jessica

Steve and I saw a great show tonight. I highly highly recommend seeing Mike Daisey’s one-man show How Theater Failed America, playing at Woolly Mammoth through next week. He’s a powerhouse performer. The writing is whip-smart: thoughtful, funny, profane, well-paced, and ultimately hopeful. We’re going back for the round-table "The State of Our Union" on Monday, a discussion with the actor/playwright, two Woolly actors, a local Managing Director, and three big DC Artistic Directors. Steve says it’s the best monologue show he’s ever seen. He sent off an email to all of his theatre friends urging them to see it (like the minute we walked in the door) . In fact, let me quote from his email (entitled YOU MUST SEE THIS!!!): "This is so serious I used three exclamation points in the subject line, and I hate people who use three exclamation points in the subject line. Sick with the flu? Fuck the...

Jan

Plagued

Jessica

I am coming down with the January plague. Steve was sick all of last week, and I thought I’d managed to avoid it, but a walk home in the rain and several nights of only sleeping for five hours seem to have caught up with me. I’m sucking on zinc and vitamin C drops and drinking lots of tea. (I don’t know if tea has actual medicinal properties, but I am a huge fan of Starbucks’ new black tea latte and find it very comforting). Draft 3 is out with my readers now. I am eagerly awaiting their brilliant feedback. It’s so different from the last draft—60 pages and 20,000 words shorter, first person, present tense, lost a few minor characters, gained a few scenes…I think it’s much stronger but I am of course still nervous. Do you ever get to a point where you send work out...

Jan

Teaser Tuesday

Jessica

Posting another snippet. This is (mostly) new to this draft. It’s from early in the book (which still needs a title)(which I was up until 2:30 brainstorming to no avail). “Should we see if Bree’s okay?” Claire shakes her head. “Nah, give her–” But before Claire can finish her sentence, an eerie voice rings out. Silence breaks across the terrace, conversations splintering. The pianist trails off mid-sonata. What is that? It sounds like a woman singing, but I’ve never heard anyone sing like that. The voice is high and haunting. Beautiful but strange. A lump of sadness wedges itself in my throat. Memories begin to sputter like film reels through my head. I’m back listening to a bugler playing “Taps” over my grandfather’s flag-draped coffin, the sunshine sacrilegious as my family flanks the grave. It’s the only time I ever saw my father cry—except for the telltale shimmer in his...

Random Thursday

Question Friday: Adaptation Edition

How Theatre Failed America

Plagued

Teaser Tuesday

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