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12-12-2006: Beth and birthday boy Bill		Three Vertical Hours ______________________________________ Beth enjoyed ''The Vertical Hour'' and Bill several times (text and photos by Beth) I've had the wonderful opportunity to see "The Vertical Hour" three times now. The first time was the third preview and the other two have been since Opening Night. If you're not familiar with the process of opening a show, I'll explain as I understand it. Once things like cast, theatre, and funding from producers are set, a play (or musical...though those often open out of town for previews) enters rehearsals ~ the producers can change or be added onto during this process. Once things are pretty set, dates are arranged for Opening Night, and then a few weeks of "Previews" are set. During Previews, the show is an ever evolving creation...you could do a scene one way, find that it doesn't get the audience reaction intended or for whatever reason doesn't work, so during the day the next day, you're rehearsing it the new way to try again. (During previews, they're rehearsing almost all day and performing at night, so it's an exhausting process.) Shows can change dramatically during this process, and that's the case with TVH. When I first saw it, it opened with a monologue by Nadia, Julianne Moore's character. Now it opens with one by Oliver, Bill's character. Other things... interactions and such changed also, and some things got rearranged. Generally reviewers do NOT see the play during Previews. That's reserved for Opening Night. After Opening, the play is generally set. There may be subtle changes, but not orchestrated.
I loved it the first time I saw it. But at the same time, you could tell the cast was getting used to each other still. Bill was wonderful...they all were. But there were little things that just didn't quite click. It was hard to believe Nadia and Philip (Oliver's son...played by Andrew Scott) had been together for a year. I did meet Bill after the nighttime performance ~ they don't always come out between matinees and evening performances, though now that it's opened, they do occasionally come out briefly. He was signing on the side of the barricades where I was and Julianne was on the other side. We were all chatting as a group, but Bill noticed some people craning their nexks, wondering if Julianne was going to come over to our side. He smiled and patted my head (I apparently was in patting distance) as he said "Oh, I know. You all just want to see her." We chuckled. The next time I saw the show it had opened. It was December 12 ~ and I took a mental health break from my graduate education course to go. There had been changes to the order and blocking and even the set since I'd seen it, but it works so much better. This was also Bill's birthday, so everyone wished him Happy Birthday as he came out the door. I was able to get my program signed and a picture with Bill this time.

And then I saw it again last night, December 23rd. It was a Christmas present to me. And honestly, it was the best I've seen it. The actors all let fly at different points in the show, and it just worked. Andrew Scott ~ who I finally had a chance to talk with ~ said "Oh, it's because we're amped that we've got TWO days off in a row!" Upon hearing I'd seen it three times, he insisted on getting my name and shaking my hand. Too cute! Julianne was gracious as always and agreed that it's deep enough you can see it more than once and still get things out of it. Even Dan Bittner, the young actor who plays Nadia's student in the beginning stuck around last night. Bill was the last one out last night, but graciously signed autographs, took pictures, and chatted. When he learned it was my third time ~ I'd said "Best performance by everyone I've seen so far" and he quirked his eyebrow at me as if to ask, so I said "Three." ~ he laughed and said "Well, I feel like I should be paying YOU something." The picture I attached from last night is the third attempt. The girl who was graciously taking my picture with him kept having issues holding the camera steady. But Bill insisted we keep trying to get a good one.		23-12-2006: Christmas IS all around with Beth and Bill
The show is great. There are a lot of subtle things that you don't pick up easily. For example, last night, I was sitting next to a man who was a little disappointed that Julianne was so...restrained...in the first act, but it fits with the character and things that are revealed in the second act. He agreed that she was much better in the second half...but in my opinion, when you understand the factes of the character revealed in the second act, the first act becomes clearer. So you have to take it as a whole, and know going in you're not going to get easy answers. The actors are fantastic ~ and the fact that they take time to sign autographs and talk afterwards is so wonderful. I know I'll be seeing it at least once more...for the closing performance on April 1.

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