"THE PLAY'S THE THING..."
(Hamlet (II, ii, 633)
To bid or not to bid - that is the question... or a bid, a bid, my kingdom for a bid...
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR
FLAT "C"
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dear Willy,
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement in your last letter to me. It does so do my heart good when you remind me how we playwrights must or seem to suffer in the pursuit of our craft. Sometimes - frequently - I believe "our kind" has masochistic tendencies bordering on psychosis with touches of a personality split (at least that's the diagnosis my head doctor has given me but what does he know?) but we've discussed this reality in our correspondence many times. Do you hear voices too? Sometimes I hear songs in my head... Just kidding of course.
By the way it was good to hear that Geoffrey and Priscilla asked about me at your Playwright's Night at Ye Olde Pub and Grill last Friday. Please tell them I have fond memories of our get-togethers last year. We did...get together, right? I mean, it wasn't a figment of my imagination?
You know Willy perhaps I've overlooked an idea whose time has come for we playwrights. Just today by lucky happenstance I came accross an article about a young lad who is using a red paper clip to barter what he hopes will be a roof over his head on e-Bay. In fact he has slowly but surely traded up to the point where he has been offered an apartment...so far.
Then it suddenly dawned on me: "egad Eleanor!" I said to myself. Why not put our plays up on e-Bay and open them to the highest bidder? Don't you think that would be an innovative way to promote them (the plays) and us? For example you could perhaps try your luck with that local favorite, "Much Ado About Something" for a start. Then again, perhaps at your stage having written so many you might feel it a sell out. Do you feel that way? If so, just forget the whole idea. Okay? I mean, I wouldn't want you to compromise your ideals. Of course idealas don't pay the rent. Right?
Uh-oh...the voices are calling me or perhaps it's e-Bay.
Ha-ha-ha-...snort-snort...
"They" are telling me "friends, Romans and pizza lovers. You knead some dough."
Ain't that the truth!
Please say hello to Anne and the kiddies and give them my best,
Eleanor and "friends"
Monday, April 17, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
"THE LIFE OF A PLAYWRIGHT IS ONE ANGST AFTER ANOTHER."
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR
FLAT "C"
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dear Willy,
Surely by now I should be used to receiving negative news but the truth is, it r gets easier. Mind you the producer did indicate that he found it had "a particular charm" whatever that means, but the bottom line is that it's not part of their upcoming season. According to the producer there was a fire in the theater, which caused a flood. I'm not quite sure what this had to do with my play...perhaps it got washed away... Maybe the pages got separated...
Go know! It's all speculation in the end, anyway.
Thing is, Willy, I had high hopes for that play but then don't we all? It took six whole months for them to finally reject it and I envisioned the play being read by the selection committee with everyone laughing at the right places.
"This is one of the funniest plays we've read in a long time," Mr. Big Bucks Who Funds Theaters might have commented.
"Absolutely agree, " the producer most likely jumped in, anxious to please Mr. Big Bucks in order to get funding.
"Do we know this playwright?" Mr. Big Bucks could have probed further. "I'm not familiar with her name."
"She's new on the theater scene but a very talented playwright," the producer could have responded while desperately checking my pedigree through the personal information blurb.
"Unknown, huh?" Mr. Big Bucks most likely said while shaking his head. "Perhaps we should stick with a well-known play that's been performed more than a hundred-thousand times in every major theater accross the country. You know - an instantly recognizable play."
"Yes - yes of course - you're right as usual!" the producer most likely jumped in. "Lets do go with a known play! But then don't we always?"
So there you have it, Willy. Rejection once again.
I'll try to write to you more often and perhaps some day we'll actually meet in person and sit down for a cappucino and a biscotti. Upon further thought...you probably prefer tea and a crumpet, don't you?
Do drop me a line and tell me what's happening at your end. By the way have you found a means in which to solve the costume problem regarding the female roles? I have a suggestion you may think is a bit unorthodox but perhaps consider having the male actors assume the female roles?
We live in hope, right? Meanwhile, have an ale on me. Okay? Maybe two.
Your friend in playwriting,
Eleanor
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR
FLAT "C"
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dear Willy,
Surely by now I should be used to receiving negative news but the truth is, it r gets easier. Mind you the producer did indicate that he found it had "a particular charm" whatever that means, but the bottom line is that it's not part of their upcoming season. According to the producer there was a fire in the theater, which caused a flood. I'm not quite sure what this had to do with my play...perhaps it got washed away... Maybe the pages got separated...
Go know! It's all speculation in the end, anyway.
Thing is, Willy, I had high hopes for that play but then don't we all? It took six whole months for them to finally reject it and I envisioned the play being read by the selection committee with everyone laughing at the right places.
"This is one of the funniest plays we've read in a long time," Mr. Big Bucks Who Funds Theaters might have commented.
"Absolutely agree, " the producer most likely jumped in, anxious to please Mr. Big Bucks in order to get funding.
"Do we know this playwright?" Mr. Big Bucks could have probed further. "I'm not familiar with her name."
"She's new on the theater scene but a very talented playwright," the producer could have responded while desperately checking my pedigree through the personal information blurb.
"Unknown, huh?" Mr. Big Bucks most likely said while shaking his head. "Perhaps we should stick with a well-known play that's been performed more than a hundred-thousand times in every major theater accross the country. You know - an instantly recognizable play."
"Yes - yes of course - you're right as usual!" the producer most likely jumped in. "Lets do go with a known play! But then don't we always?"
So there you have it, Willy. Rejection once again.
I'll try to write to you more often and perhaps some day we'll actually meet in person and sit down for a cappucino and a biscotti. Upon further thought...you probably prefer tea and a crumpet, don't you?
Do drop me a line and tell me what's happening at your end. By the way have you found a means in which to solve the costume problem regarding the female roles? I have a suggestion you may think is a bit unorthodox but perhaps consider having the male actors assume the female roles?
We live in hope, right? Meanwhile, have an ale on me. Okay? Maybe two.
Your friend in playwriting,
Eleanor
Friday, March 31, 2006
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR
FLAT "C"
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dear William,
Glad to receive your latest update, especially the good news that the Globe has decided to use one of your plays. By the way, which one did you decide to use in the end? The ghost one? I'm sort-of partial to anything supernatural. Besides, the public is very "into" this type of story line so it's a wise choice.
As for me...same old, same old. Waiting to receive news regarding the fate of some short plays I've submitted to various competitions. If memory serves me I should be hearing something within the month but then who knows! It's been my experience that no news doesn't necessarily mean good tidings although I keep telling myself it is or could be. Maybe? Hopefully? Keeping my fingers crossed, though, in addition to my toes and my eyes. A little playwriting indulgence and folly.
Of course...being the established playwright that you are and all, you no longer have to concern yourself with such trivialities. I mean, you're so well known and respected in the theatre community that just spotting your name in the pile of submitted plays puts you to the top of the list.
"Oh look!" one reader probably says to another. "It's another one from Willy Boy (I'm sure they probably have that pet name for you or something similar). Of course it will be good and we'll love it instantly but let's go through the motions. It's only fair!"
Do I sound jealous? You bet! I mean - what does it feel like, Willy, to have your play seen by real people? Don't know if I mentioned it - and let's keep it to ourselves - but and I feel so silly even writing this - I frequently use my cat Fluffy and my two dogs, Lester and Hubert, as sounding boards for my plays. Problem is it's difficult to gauge their reaction since they usually sleep through the first act. Actually, through the second act too, however they do wake for the finale when I utter their favorite word: "lunch-ies!"
What can I say, Willy? I take my audiences as I find them. Today I have a reading at the local community center with the participation of the "Ladies of Walmart South" group, some of which I've been told have acting experience. Should be quite an experience and I'll report back to you on the results.
Please give my regards to the gang down at the pub and tell them that Eleanor says 'hi'!' By the way break a leg yourself!
Yours in playwriting,
Eleanor
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR
FLAT "C"
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Dear William,
Glad to receive your latest update, especially the good news that the Globe has decided to use one of your plays. By the way, which one did you decide to use in the end? The ghost one? I'm sort-of partial to anything supernatural. Besides, the public is very "into" this type of story line so it's a wise choice.
As for me...same old, same old. Waiting to receive news regarding the fate of some short plays I've submitted to various competitions. If memory serves me I should be hearing something within the month but then who knows! It's been my experience that no news doesn't necessarily mean good tidings although I keep telling myself it is or could be. Maybe? Hopefully? Keeping my fingers crossed, though, in addition to my toes and my eyes. A little playwriting indulgence and folly.
Of course...being the established playwright that you are and all, you no longer have to concern yourself with such trivialities. I mean, you're so well known and respected in the theatre community that just spotting your name in the pile of submitted plays puts you to the top of the list.
"Oh look!" one reader probably says to another. "It's another one from Willy Boy (I'm sure they probably have that pet name for you or something similar). Of course it will be good and we'll love it instantly but let's go through the motions. It's only fair!"
Do I sound jealous? You bet! I mean - what does it feel like, Willy, to have your play seen by real people? Don't know if I mentioned it - and let's keep it to ourselves - but and I feel so silly even writing this - I frequently use my cat Fluffy and my two dogs, Lester and Hubert, as sounding boards for my plays. Problem is it's difficult to gauge their reaction since they usually sleep through the first act. Actually, through the second act too, however they do wake for the finale when I utter their favorite word: "lunch-ies!"
What can I say, Willy? I take my audiences as I find them. Today I have a reading at the local community center with the participation of the "Ladies of Walmart South" group, some of which I've been told have acting experience. Should be quite an experience and I'll report back to you on the results.
Please give my regards to the gang down at the pub and tell them that Eleanor says 'hi'!' By the way break a leg yourself!
Yours in playwriting,
Eleanor
MR. WILLIAM SHAKEASPEAR, ESQ.
FLAT "C",
STRATFORD-UPON AVON
Dearest William,
How are things going with you? Had any new plays produced lately?
There’s good news and bad news and neutral news, depending on the interpretation. Most of my "babies" have come home to mama...again. Oh the angst of it all!
I know I should feel somewhat relieved knowing that at the very least they’re back home with their creator but there remains that nagging question: “WHY?” Since there was and seldom is commentary provided by the recipients, the reason for rejection is strictly speculation.
In discussing artistic hang-ups with fellow playwrights most were in agreement that after releasing their plays to the world, the second worst thing is the waiting period for replies that frequently don't/never arrive.
When it comes to creative anxiety, playwrights have the corner in this area. There's always this incessant concern that:
a) the play is/was drivel and the recipient will/did immediately toss it in the trash or
b) maybe it never reached its destination having dropped out of a mail bag along the way or
c) maybe the recipient liked the play but the theatre's season is filled up and they decided to keep it for a future production, and by mistake dropped it in "file thirteen" at the bottom of a trash can
A creative idea would be to include a card containing tick-off boxes along with the elusive SASE, in the hope that the director/reader/janitor will send it back:
"Dear Playwright,
This is to advise you that we have received your play and we find that:
a) your play is typed well and we like the font
b) your play had insufficient postage so we took the postage stamp off your return envelope for future use, as payment
c) your play is drivel
d) your play is so good that we are immediately staging it for a Broadway/London/wherever opening, after which it will tour the world
In any case there is still one literary baby “out there.” Where there is life there's hope.
Oh please, oh please, let there be hope! Playwrights live on those four letters!
Meanwhile, say hello to the little missus and the children.
'Til next time...
Eleanor
FLAT "C",
STRATFORD-UPON AVON
Dearest William,
How are things going with you? Had any new plays produced lately?
There’s good news and bad news and neutral news, depending on the interpretation. Most of my "babies" have come home to mama...again. Oh the angst of it all!
I know I should feel somewhat relieved knowing that at the very least they’re back home with their creator but there remains that nagging question: “WHY?” Since there was and seldom is commentary provided by the recipients, the reason for rejection is strictly speculation.
In discussing artistic hang-ups with fellow playwrights most were in agreement that after releasing their plays to the world, the second worst thing is the waiting period for replies that frequently don't/never arrive.
When it comes to creative anxiety, playwrights have the corner in this area. There's always this incessant concern that:
a) the play is/was drivel and the recipient will/did immediately toss it in the trash or
b) maybe it never reached its destination having dropped out of a mail bag along the way or
c) maybe the recipient liked the play but the theatre's season is filled up and they decided to keep it for a future production, and by mistake dropped it in "file thirteen" at the bottom of a trash can
A creative idea would be to include a card containing tick-off boxes along with the elusive SASE, in the hope that the director/reader/janitor will send it back:
"Dear Playwright,
This is to advise you that we have received your play and we find that:
a) your play is typed well and we like the font
b) your play had insufficient postage so we took the postage stamp off your return envelope for future use, as payment
c) your play is drivel
d) your play is so good that we are immediately staging it for a Broadway/London/wherever opening, after which it will tour the world
In any case there is still one literary baby “out there.” Where there is life there's hope.
Oh please, oh please, let there be hope! Playwrights live on those four letters!
Meanwhile, say hello to the little missus and the children.
'Til next time...
Eleanor
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