Another Tear For Rome - Production Blog

A lacrymatory or lachrymatory is a small vessel of terracotta or, more frequently, of glass, found in Roman and late Greek tombs, and supposed to have been bottles into which mourners dropped their tears. Opening week, and with four days to go we're at 90% of the "break even" point. And that is very nice. Because we deserve it. Because people are going to love this play. As I do. As the cast does. As does Rome itself! Probably. I am a vessel of terracotta or, more frequently, of glass filled with equal parts dread and joy.  Adding to this is the decision I made to accept a job offer this week. It was a very gentle recruiting process, and a soft application process, and it just suddenly happened. Thus, the experiment to take six months off to write and create became three and a half months off and grabbing the first thing that dangled itself in front of me.  It will mean this play will have filled the gap entirely.  It will go on my timeline as how I filled ...

"You bring this network's ratings down, Flavius, and we'll do a special on you!" Tuesday's rehearsal was nice and full; we maxed out the time. An enormous group of children swarmed the chess set near the beginning. They really trashed the place, wielding the bishops like clubs and chucking the checkers at one another's feet, but we just slid over to our left and did our thing.  There's a man who uses the second floor of the Amory as his office. He's there seven or eight hours a day with his laptop and headphones. We had to intrude on his area a little. But he didn't seem to mind. I was prepared to offer him a free ticket. I should anyway. The security guards too. The maintenance persons too! Everyone!  This part of the process is almost pure joy. Not every production gets to this place, but this one has. I get very excited about rehearsal beforehand, show up ready to go, and laugh through the whole thing. Different lines crack me u...

Imperial Rome — centre of the world — throbbing with the white heat of violence, bloodshed and uninhibited sexuality… Bought as an actor, kidnapped by pirates, sold as a gladiator, young Cleon’s beauty and flagrant masculinity made every woman – harlots and Vestal Virgins alike – desire him. And passion drives Cleon to help destroy a Caesar! Three weeks to go! Wardrobe has sent me video of her dancing with a column-shaped hat and photos of silver sandals. The Emperor's Son has a salon appointment to get his Caesar haircut. I ordered packing tape with the logo on it. It's all happening. We rehearsed my scene last week, and I was in a very playful mood, ad-libbing and jumping around. It's just a cameo, but I'd like it to be fun and not seem like a vanity-appearance. The AD had helpful feedback, pushing me a little and working out some better physicality for the scene. A good time at the chess set.  The two-options-on-three-fingers gesture is working now, ...