Ok. I am still not sure what to think about how people (namely critics) will respond to this show. When we play the humor and we don't go up on our lines like we all have been doing during these final days of rehearsal, this is a real real fun play to be a part of. We are still figuring out the humor, the drama, the realism, surrealism, the hyper-realism and the hyper-surrealism and where it all takes place during the course of the show. During all the previously mentioned styles of theater, the one common thing an actor must do is find the truth in the lines and the situations. Then the play and the audiences response will be our final director and they, (the audience and hopefully whoever's reading this: Mom, Dad, Scooter, and Rook) will feed us and teach us how best this play should be played. In some respects it is as mindless as Dumb & Dumber and in others it's as deep as Schindler's List. From moment to moment you don't know whether to respond to something as drama or comedy. This happens throughout the play. So my advice: Take it all in as comedy. Even if you don't belly laugh, see the humor even in the somewhat disturbing scenes. It's there. Us actors are trying to fine tune that before we open on Thursday. I must say I am blessed to be working with such a wonderful cast: Carolyn, Suzanne, David, and of course Heidi. We all have our own methods of working and we haven't gotten in the way of each other much. It's wonderful and I respect everyone's pre-curtain method of preparation. My ritual, is stretching first and breathing - and absolute incessant pacing to work off my nervous energy. This is important because it is a physically and emotionally exhausting show to do and I want to be in tip top shape for each performance. So I only eat Buffalo Wings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Only on occasion will I order the wings for Sunday Football. Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'll make sure I order extra lettuce on my Big Mac to get my healthy dose of vegetables!

The point being, before a show like this, actors are obligated to keep themselves healthy. In some contracts for an acting job, diet and exercise are a requirement.

We as the actors are a little nervous about how this play will be received. Will people find it funny? Repulsive? Offensive? Sad? What will the critics think? Will we get slammed? Praised? Or even worse, not even written about? As much as an actor should NEVER be concerned about such nonsense, it is still very present in an actor's mind. Afterall, this is why we do it. For praise, for adoration. I've talked about this worry of mine extensively with my friend, Rob. He has to keep reminding me that this is part of the gig. Anyone that decides to pursue a life in the arts must face judement on a constant bases. Especially as an actor. An agent judges you before he takes you on. A casting director judges you when they call you in for an audition. The Director and Producers judge you during your audition callbacks. And finally when you get the gig, now the audience will judge you and even worse, the critics. So in order to maintain my sanity, Rob reminds me to just focus on the work. Focus on the monologue and do my job before I present it to an agent. Focus on the sides and the script and do my job at the audition before the Director, Casting Directors, and Producers. And finally, focus on the part that I was blessed to be cast in, and do the best job I can with the material that I was given and all will fall into place. Even if reviews are bad which every actor must face at one time or another, I have to press on because this is what I love and no one can take my love away from me. Not even Scooter and Rook. Whoever the F_ CK they are!