Rote

We have had the most delightful weather the past couple of days. Temps in the low 80s, a light north wind. The wind direction keeps the smoke from the wildfires away from us (alas, Ocrakoke is getting it now). The temperature at the show after sundown is low 70s. It was actually a bit chilly after the show last night!

I’d like to say that the cool weather has given a new energy to the show, and it has. But offsetting this is the rote ness that is setting in. I’m not sure if “rote ness” is even a word but that’s what spell check came up with. You know what I mean. We’re starting to do this by rote. Press “play” and we do the pageant. We’re phoning it in. I watch the crowd scenes and can tell that some of the people are a million miles away. Don’t get me wrong – all proceeds as it should. It’s just not focused. Hear a cue and say “God save our Queen!” We play the tape in our heads and put in our two cents at the appropriate times. Its only when the tape varies that we get focused. Last night there were a couple of line flubs from Principals. And although I was just playing the tape in the background of my brain I came alert, and I wasn’t even on stage during the flubs, I heard them through the monitor. “That’s not right!” my brain screamed.

And this rote ness is only going to get worse. Last night was number 15 of approximately 70.