Monday, October 12, 2009

And the curtain goes down...

So yesterday was the closing performance for 'Curtains'.
While I've been thrilled at the prospect of home-cooked meals for myself and the children every evening and simple things like long, languid showers and a glass of wine on the patio in the evenings; I'm waiting for the depression to sink in.
I guess it's not 'depression' as much as it's a feeling of restlessness that actors go through while waiting for the next project to come along. Regardless how overwhelmed I get with family and work and writing and photography, theatre is my true creative outlet and I often find myself getting antsy very shortly after the curtain has fallen.

The up-side is that I get a chance to have a bit of a social life now. I also find that the definition of such has changed over the years. In my 20's... the 'social life' meant hanging at karaoke bars and dance clubs, meeting as many new people as possible, and forging friendships that really didn't extend past 'last call'.
These days, I prefer to entertain at home with select friends that have stood the test of time and have their own interesting perspective to add to conversations on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not that my theatre friends don't... but there are only a select few that I would count among my 'nearest and dearest'. Theatre folk (myself included) tend to be fickle. As Heidi Klum would say, "One day you're in... and the next day, you're out."

This is also the first time in seven years that I'm not doing a show over the holidays. With the exception of a few corporate gigs, I'll be spending my spare time at home... maybe even do some Christmas shopping in an actual store. Wow. What a concept.

And on that note, I'm realizing that I have approximately two weeks to build my daughter's Halloween costume (Supergirl) and find knee-high red boots. It's the only time of year when shopping at a 'stripper store' for your 14-year-old daughters' footwear and accessories is acceptable. (Or at least that's how I justify it.)

I'm sure that once I dust off the sewing machine and start on all the projects around the house that I've been putting off for months, I'll be fine and won't feel the absence of rehearsals in my life. It's only for two months until I start the next show, but still... I'm a big baby when I'm not doing something onstage.

I will miss this cast. I had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented people who were eager to explore and always positive. I will miss the smiles and laughter backstage and onstage.

sigh.

And so we move on to the next chapter.
And... scene.