Have you missed me? No? Fine, whatever. I feel that it has been a long time since I posted to this blog and that is a great disservice to you, faithful companion. So much has happened with the theatre company and so much is on the brink of happening. First Dracula. I have been adapting a version of Bram Stoker's novel. What compelled me to do such a thing? Why do I think I can do better than so many others who have tried? I don't. I only know that I can do it different and focus on what is important to me. So, whether you know the story or not, I think that this adaptation will give you a better understanding of the actual novel. then you can go home, read it and come and tell me what I did wrong. Please, do that......because it means that you come and see it. Speaking of coming to see it, we will be having a staged reading of the play on the...wait a second...let me check the calendar...November 17th at the Black Rock Bar here in Chicago. If you have never seen a stage reading, here is how it works: Actors are picked to read the roles, a couple of rehearsals take place so that they can get a feel for the words on their tongues, the actors then sit in front of an audience and read the show while someone else, my wife and the director in this case, reads the stage directions. the hope is that the audience will feel like they are being told an awesome story AND can then give me some input. What did you like? What did you hate? What should I keep? what should I cut? Super useful to me, super fun for you. They play is not "perfect," even to me. that is what the workshops and readings are for, fixing the problems that I don't see in my head because you can be blind to the problems of your own brain child. I don't think it ever will be "perfect," however, because there isn't a "perfect play." It is fun, it deals with a lot of themes both fantastical and real, and its a good story. That is all that matters in my opinion. If people come and see it and they see a version of Dracula that entertains them and makes them interested in the story then I do not need the approval of the literary elite or the Dracula scholars (do they exist). Anywho, the play is a work in progress, has had several drafts, and will have several more. It has been a large amount of work done in an extremely condensed time frame, so there are bumps to smooth out (think oatmeal). With luck, when you see it on the 17th, it will be a little less lumpy (think brownie batter).
Next we have our podcasts, which have become the great chore (joyful chore) of my life. Audio editing is tricking and audio hosting is expensive. So for the time being you have to download the podcasts in separate chunks, such is life. The long awaited, and long overdue, second half of our next podcast will be released shortly and the most recent podcast session, on the subject of Dracula, will go live on Halloween. So you have that to look forward to. It's not a perfect process yet. Some people sound louder than others and the audio quality is what I like to call "Edison cylinder" good. but to be fair, we are recording off a laptop and that is not ideal, so bear with it, turn up your volume, and follow along. I promise you will be entertained.
-Sarka Out
Next we have our podcasts, which have become the great chore (joyful chore) of my life. Audio editing is tricking and audio hosting is expensive. So for the time being you have to download the podcasts in separate chunks, such is life. The long awaited, and long overdue, second half of our next podcast will be released shortly and the most recent podcast session, on the subject of Dracula, will go live on Halloween. So you have that to look forward to. It's not a perfect process yet. Some people sound louder than others and the audio quality is what I like to call "Edison cylinder" good. but to be fair, we are recording off a laptop and that is not ideal, so bear with it, turn up your volume, and follow along. I promise you will be entertained.
-Sarka Out