How to Put on a Play: The Last Lesson

The run is now finished.  It’s been a very tiring, but very exciting and satisfying three weeks.  It’s hard to believe it’s over.  This last week saw sell-out houses and enthusiastic audiences.  There lies one part of this last lesson, and this is a...

Jane Smiley, "Private Life"

I have been a huge fan of Jane Smiley since “A Thousand Acres,” her novel based on King Lear published in 1991.  That novel stayed in my mind as one of my favourites for a long time, although I didn’t read much of her other work, until I stumbled...

Notes instead of Words

Given all the craziness of the last few weeks, with both a play being produced and a new novel to get published, you would think the last thing I would need would be an orchestra concert thrown into the mix.  But tonight  (7.30 pm, Chelsea Town Hall, King’s Road...

Planning the Launch

In the middle of all the theatricality this week, I managed to check out a possible venue for September’s launch of my new novel, A Clash of Innocents.  I usually am too superstitious to talk about things before they are set in stone, but I have a very good...

Up and Running

My oh my, what a week!Monday we did the tech for the show which went all day and into the night.Tuesday we had a dress rehearsal, and the Opening Night.  Even though it was a preview, the house was nearly full and the performance was completely assured.  Actors are...