Chekhov stood in for Nora's father last night as we tried not to ruin GLTF's touring show rehearsal space last night. No Nate (he's auditioning for grad schools) so we only did scenes without Reed - scenes 4, 5 and 7.
Scene 4 is where you start to see both Tracey and Barry's wheels turning as to what they will ultimately do to attempt to save their jobs. Kristy's back from bronchitis leave, and as they went over the scene, she was developing a good faux-friendly gossip vibe with Nora. I also enjoyed this little moment pictured, in which Tracey and Zach start getting in each other's faces while poor, unsuspecting Nora is trying to work. As Nora, Laurel suffers so much abuse and betrayal in this play. When Brian exited this scene and delivered Zach's parting line with a bit more dickishness toward her than he intended, she looked so sad. (Even though the rest of us laughed.) It's just Laurel's lot to end up sad and alone in every one of my plays she does.
Scene 5 is my favorite in the show: Nora and Barry's heart-to-heart about work vs. one's love life. It's pivotal because it's where Nora starts to let her guard down and express anti-Company angst and Barry starts to really formulate his plan. Allen and Laurel are quite funny in this scene, particularly when discussing chiseled abs and how they're not the same age. Lisa discussed the addition of props - particularly edible ones - to this scene. I wonder how much Bundt cake we'll all have consumed when this is over.
Scene 7: Nora and Tracey's confrontation followed by Zach and Nora's sad moment. (I don't want to give too much away.) I really like where this is going. Kristy is finding the right sense of matter-of-factness. Tracey is not being a bitch in her mind, she's being practical. And Brian is tapping into the right kind of earnest conflicted attitude. He's not being a jerk here, he's legitimately confused and trying to do what's best. That countered with Laurel's anger and hurt, and I think it's working. At least, I hope it's working. What do I know? I'm just a writer.
Best moment of the night: Laurel going full-on after Kristy in scene 7, forcing Brian to really, really mean his line "Calm down!" as he tried to keep them apart and Laurel angrily batted his script out of his hand.
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