"When we are born, we cry, that we are come to this great stage of fools."

First company meeting last night. I have to start doing these as soon as I get home from rehearsal or I know I'll fall behind. Lots of new people this year and lots of healthy enthusiasm. All the new folks seem talented and hopefully they'll be game to let it all hang out this summer. There are 23(?) actors this year and 11 of them are virgins (White Bear virgins, that is) and we have one former alum who's come back to play (woot, Eric!).

We read Doctor in Spite of Himself last night...just glanced at it, really. Scanned it, if you will. At 33 pages, I think it's the shortest show I've done at S&C, and saving true one-acts, definitely one of the shortest shows they've produced. There's never a dearth of business that S&C actors can invent to lengthen a classic comedy (or, for that matter, a tragedy), but it's kinda surprising to see Jeff Altier, the Cecil B. DeMille of the Northeast suburbs, do 30-page show with a ten person cast. Like Joe Montana coaching pee-wee fooball...no, wait...like Patton overseeing a snowball fight. Yeah, I like that one better.

Somehow during introductions last night, "profession" got added to name, roles, and years in company, so I had the distinct honor of informing everyone that I do "nothing". I'm not totally comfortable presenting myself as an "actor" yet, mostly because I haven't earned enough at it to buy a pot to piss in. George suggested I was a "kept man". Touche', big guy. You just made the list.