First Draft Series
Who was that masked man?
I kept wondering who that older man was in the back right section who sat through the First Draft Series reading of my current play, June 17th, 2008. I’d like to thank him, he had wonderfully direct and accurate things to say about Lowell, and articulated them well. He put his finger on the main problem with the play as it is now. He was overheard to say he hadn’t been to a Chicago Dramatists reading in ten years. I’m not sure how enjoyable his return experience was, but I was grateful to have him listen and comment.
As always, too, Rob Koon’s input was thoroughly perceptive, objective, and invaluable. His comments about the human interaction of the characters needing to create the moment to moment interest (as opposed to the wide sweep of it — I being the master of wide sweep) were particularly useful.
First Prize for Collective Unconscious goes to Bill Rumbler for comparing the play to Steambath, because, according to Wikipedia, Bruce Jay Friedman was inspired to write that play by a bad experience at a Chinese restaurant.
Thanks to everyone who read — esp. Dareese, Will and Howard — and everyone who sat through and commented on a reading of a play that has many problems and one central problem that made listening to it a lot of work.
- Wendy