31 October 2007

North York, Ontario


17 October 2007

North York, Ontario
I probably won't even get a chance to post this for another 2 weeks since I'm away from my home computer, but I thought I'd at least get one in while we're here. It's a strange time in the life of
9LoLMM. In the space of five days, my father was operated on for cancer and Leo's mother ended up in the hospital and is still there as we speak. Needless to say, while we're trying to get going on amassing funding for the show, our hearts really aren't into it. We're not giving up, mind you - but this isn't at all how we envisioned this trip to Toronto would be.

What's also contributing to things is that, on Saturday, I have to go down to Florida and take care of my Dad for a week. I don't mind; he's my father, after all. But it will mean Leo has to fly solo in terms of trying to get investors. The only thing for me is, it may give me a chance to work on this next rewrite. The big thing everyone goes on about is that the show's too long. I don't disagree. I suppose, for a two-part movie event, it isn't too long - look at
Anne of Green Gables! But, for a stage show, well...anyway, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to shorten things down without losing too much in the way of information and layers. And I think I finally have it, but it's got to be done just right - and I haven't had a chance to work that out yet. Plus, I'm really not in a creative space, either. Just too much going on, too much on my mind, and I'm feeling too down. Strangely, I understand how it was difficult for Maud to create during her various troubles - I understood it before, but it's especially relevant for me now.

I hope you don't mind my getting a bit more personal in this entry. But, I decided that if I was going to show you the good stuff, I had to show you the bad stuff, too. It's not all running around getting pictures taken and doing interviews and living
la vida loca. I didn't anticipate our family emergencies entering into the picture, but it's what's happening and it is having an impact on us. But rest assured - we still love 9LoLMM as much as ever and we're going to get this on next June come hell or high water.

Actually, I should mention that we briefly met with Kate Macdonald Butler and her associate Sally Cohen today; we hadn't seen them since our January trip. There may be something afoot in terms of a neat tie-in with the show, but I can't talk about it yet. I don't know if it'll happen, but we all seemed intrigued by the idea, so, if it develops any further, you'll hear about it right here.

I want to do a YouTube video from here, but...well, we'll have to see. Talking about this stuff over the computer is one thing; turning a camera on ourselves in the middle of this is another thing entirely!

Well, we shall forage on...I need to pull myself up somehow...it's just hard right now.

01 October 2007

Stratford, Prince Edward Island
Well, I guess it's time to get back to it. The show, I mean! Not that we haven't been working on it in other areas - we spent much of last week writing e-mails and making phone calls and thanking people and just generally trying to direct our attention to getting a production funded for next summer. We're also looking into hooking up with a professional dramaturge to help us over the hurdle of consolidating the libretto. I'm still convinced the answer lies in the back of my head, but perhaps an outside source might help jiggle it loose!

As for now, I'm about to go back into the libretto and make the changes we made in the workshop - which for now have only been on paper. I was going to do it yesterday, but I got slammed with some funky flu something where I "only" had chills and fever and not the usual coughy/sniffly/sneezy stuff, but it was enough to pretty well render me useless the whole day. I feel a tad feverish even now, but at least somewhat conscious! Don't know how long it'll last, so I'd better go with it.

Next week we are heading to Toronto to, among other things, look into getting funding for the show. Not to mention reconnect with some people and meet others. Which also means I have to get a recut version of the demo ready before we go. It never ends! :)