Bringing It Home

It has been nearly 40 years since the first human caught a glimpse of the far side of the moon. Discounting satellite imagery, it's a place that relatively few have seen. And the moon itself has only been touched by a dozen men—the last one, a geologist, in 1972. In history, Apollo 18 never launched. Budget cuts and shifts for the budding Skylab program brought about a quiet transition in this spectacular era of human innovation. With "Darkside", Ken Jones takes us back to an amazing time in space exploration and gives us the thrill of adventure and danger that these American heroes faced on their journeys, and also a glimpse of the people they were, the lives they lived, and the truth that the reality of being human can be more destructive than any malfunction.

That was the Director's Note that I placed in the program for our recent production of "Darkside". Don't know why I posted it—just felt like sharing.

The show has wrapped. The stage has been struck. We celebrated with champagne and had a wonderful closing weekend. I cried. Like a baby. A hungry, angry baby. Okay, okay... it wasn't so obvious—but there were tears. Just like I said there would be. Good tears. The kind you feel well up from your soul, born of love. Love for an experience that you never want to end. Of course it wasn't just seeing the final performance that made me get misty (although I'll tell you, there are several moments in that show when it tugs right at the heartstrings and that day was especially tuggy); it was my cast and crew, after the show, that caused my lip to tremble. One of them in particular... a great friend who happens to have a gift for words and a knack for stringing them together in the most eloquent of ways. Some nice things were said. And coming from him meant the world.

I remember thanking everyone yesterday, as is the custom in our theater. I handed out our traditional ham mugs—commemorative mugs (not for drinking) that our theater likes to hand out at the end of each show's run. Similar enough that you can amass a collection, but all unique enough to remind you of each show individually. So I handed out the keepsakes and said a few words about each person. Not nearly so eloquent as I'd like to think I can be.

So I'm going to take a page from Keaton's blog (I think he did this once and you know how competitive I like to be with you, buddy); and I'm going to thank everyone properly.

My Crew

Sue—You really are quite something. There is a place for you on every show I work on from here until infinity. Your passion for this show, your handle on the cast, and your loyalty to me were nothing short of wonderful. And I truly look forward to the day when you take the reigns on yourself. Your talent is itching to burst forth and your eye for great theatre and solid moments will take you far. We received a lot of praise for this production and I hope you take your fair share in that. Thank you for being my "wingman" on this one. It was most assuredly a pleasure.

Deb, Lisa, Sara, and Megan—Like the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame (except that you're women and this wasn't a football game), you were the backbone of this show. I was once told that if you want to look talented, you should surround yourself with talented people. And I did just that. Each of you were integral in your own way in bringing about this production. From preplanning and keeping me in check, budget-wise, to being there to help me through my first real audition on the "other side of the table", to hammering my actors with their lines—no small feat in a show like this which depended on solid, well-paced, and accurate delivery—to stepping up to help with every little detail and thinking of the things I didn't, but should've, to graciously forgiving a rookie director when he pushed too hard and delivering even when he asked for the impossible. I cannot begin to thank you enough for all that you did.

Mark P., Mark R., and Mark B.—How do you create a world that draws in the audience... with four separate locations sharing one area? How do you create the vast isolation and dichotomy of claustrophobia in space on one small stage in Ohio? And then how do you light it? Because really, I still have no idea how you three did what you did. The set was perfect and the lighting was inspired. The three of you infused elements into the show that wowwed us all. Thank you for sharing in this with me and for giving the actors a place to play that made it real for them.

Eric—I knew from the start that if there was someone in this town who could deliver the sound this show needed, it was you. Thank you for creating a soundtrack that complimented the show, drew in the audience, and added some moments that really gave me chills.

Joyce—I said in my director interview that the one thing that needed to be spot on for this show was the costuming. To create believable suits for the astronauts and clothing for the ladies that took us right to 1973 without a word of dialogue was something I was banking on and I hit the jackpot with you. You made them look fantastic. Thank you!

My Cast

Howard—Thank you. I wish I had brought you in sooner. It was great having you begin your theatre journey with "Darkside" and it was wonderful to watch you create two characters that added so much to the show. Thank you for everything.

Doug—You're one of the most hard-working and willing actors I know. I had a blast working with you on this show (as per usual), and it was especially a treat to work with you from a director's standpoint, watching you make the reporter your own and still very much everything I envisioned in that character.

JoLayne—What an absolute gem you are. Your devotion to Beth and this show, your eagerness to find the dimensions of your character, and your talent to express a world of emotion with a single look or shudder or crack of your voice... it was a joy to watch you and a pleasure to direct you. Fire up.

Marla—You rock my world. Watching you pour yourself into this character, taking on every scene with passion, and working to make Gigi more than just the femme fatale... giving her a heart, a soul, and a vulnerability... it was fantastic. You are absolutely fearless on the stage, something any director would kill for, and I thank you for all that you gave to this show and look forward to working with you again.

Randy—I consider myself lucky to have had this opportunity to work with you. CAPCOM is a challenging and unforgiving role. Scene upon scene of nothing but background work, stuck at your little terminal, and yet you made it look effortless. You made him more than just the voice of Houston. And then in the home stretch you delivered a powerful ending that was just... sir, I believed it all. Thank you. It was captivating.

Mark S.—There was more than one line you delivered that gave me chills. Moments where I connected with Gunner and felt his fear, his awe, his strength, his love of being an astronaut and the sense of duty he engendered. You made him real... not just the hard-ass vet, but one of the guys. The astronauts in this show had a tough job—being icons and being human all at the same time. Living up to the ideal of the Apollo-era astronaut while still connecting with the audience. And you did it beautifully.

Trygve—I swear I thought you were actually gonna hyperventilate one night. But seriously. Ed was awesome. You're a talented actor and you're giving and willing to explore your character and find the best way to portray him. I enjoyed working with you and hope to again one day. Thank you for finding so many levels in Ed, for bringing us the tension and suspense that this script called for, and for making us care about Ed Stone. Wonderful job.

Michael—I didn't do you any favors in casting you as Bill. And we butted heads like rams on a hill more than a few times. This part was a solid full show of being "on"—an emotional tour de force. And you did it brilliantly. Every scene saw you hit a different level and every night you got stronger, never dropping your intensity, and never holding back. Ken Jones didn't write an easy part in Bill Griffin, and I knew I needed an actor capable of keeping the emotions grounded, the character consistent, and even from three feet away, he needed to be completely genuine. And I found that in you. You brought it home, my friend. I thank you for that.

Final Thought
I've had the distinct pleasure of being involved with some amazing theatre over the past few years. Writing, acting, and now directing. I look forward to the next adventure, but it will be hard pressed to top this one. I already miss it. The people especially. Sure, I'll see most, if not all, of them around the theater. And we're already getting ready for another production. But all the same—it was this specific group, this crew, this cast, this everything... this was something special. Something I will cherish always.

You guys made me proud.

(Most of...) the cast and crew of DARKSIDE.
March 2007