Play reading with The British Players

Out last night at a play reading for The British Players, hosted by one of their producers, Caroline Gelb.  Periodically TBP gets a group of members together to read through several plays under consideration for next season.  It's always a lovely evening with drinks and dinner, and then separating into groups to run through the various candidate-plays.  Since most of the members are stage actors the reading are lively and well done.

Boeing,  Boeing

Last night the plays were Boeing, Boeing by Marc Camoletti (an American architect juggling three live-in fiancées — all stewardesses — with crucial help from a stressed-out French maid and a well-thumbed airline timetable), Too Soon for Daisies by William Dinner and William Morum (three elderly ladies “escape” from a retirement home, mayhem ensues), and The Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon (a man wakes up in the bridal suite on his wedding morning to find an extremely attractive naked girl in bed beside him.)  Boeing, Boeing got a big thumbs up, although it was considered awfully similar to the Camoletti play we just did, Don't Dress for Dinner (it's a kind of prequel actually).  Of course, DDFD was a moneymaker, which was a plus. Too Soon for Daisies, which I took part in, was cute along the lines of Arsenic and Old Lace, but would require a very quick change on the set for one scene and pitch-perfect casting for the three principals.  The Perfect Wedding was a no.  Not sure why, since I wasn't in that group.

I must say that my skills as an actress have improved a huge amount from doing stage work, possibly because the absence of a camera allows me to fully focus on my scene partner.  As Eli Wallach famously said, the secret to acting is listening to people and stage work facilitates that.

There will be another evening of reading plays before recommendations are passed along to the TBP Board.  I hope I'm available for the next reading too. It is great fun.

Tomorrow I'm off to the first cast meeting for the upcoming web series Capitol South, which is slated to begin filming episodes in June.  Then to a web series film festival that will go on for hours.  Sunday it promises to be 70 degrees so I'm working in the garden. Monday night is the Helen Hayes Awards Gala at the Warner Theater, with after party at the J.W. Marriott.  Hope I catch a second wind.  Whew.