completely exhausted as i make my way through my first week in orleans. i don’t remember having jet lag this badly before- i’m falling-down tired by 830PM and i pop wide awake by 430AM and i can’t seem to adjust it.
but i have enjoyed my mornings: hot baths, video chats with my sweetheart, long strolls about town, and many leisurely breakfasts here in the hotel: cafe au lait, fresh croissants with blackberry confiture, and a baguette or two with homemade honey. i feel positively civilized each morning when i march into the dining area deliver a sing-songy bonjour! to my host, and sit down in one of the mis-matched antique chairs to a delicious spread.
we had our first fully-teched run-through of the play today: i.e., we performed it all the way through with full lights, costumes, sound, and fake blood. it went great! i can’t wait to see how the locals like it. we’ve been fielding quite a bit of press already, and there are posters all over town with our names on them! the theatre has a massive house, and the four performances here in orleans are all well on their way to sold out.
several times now during rehearsal of a scene my eyes have wandered skyward and accidentally locked on the large black display that provided bright-red subtitles (or is it supertitles?) of our lines in french. it’s quite shocking and a little unnerving- but at the same time it entrances me. i’ve fallen completely out of the play once or twice, just lost staring at these strange words glowing above us. i wonder how it will change the show to have the audience reading along- will they ever take their eyes off the titles and watch what we’re doing? or will they just read?
it’s thrilling to be here. i’m very lucky!
