Gustav Update, Hamlet, Playhouse, Showcase

Lots of stuff to say in this post, so I’m going to get right to it.

First of all: Gustav. Of course, we’re still watching it intently. Some parishes have already called for a mandatory evacuation beginning tomorrow. “Mandatory Evacuation,” however, is kind of misleading. What that really means is “we’re trying to cover our collective butts in case something happens.” We’re watching. We’re keeping an eye out. Are we leaving? We don’t know yet.

No matter what happens, chances are sometime beginning Sunday I’ll be incommunicado. If we stay, there’s a good chance our power and Internet connection will go down for an indeterminate amount of time. If we leave, I will of course take my laptop with me, and I’ll update whenever possible, but there’s no telling when that will be.

In the meantime, we’re doing what everyone else is doing: watching the news, getting supplies, praying.

Also in Gustav news, the production of Hamlet you’ve heard me mention here before. It’s obviously been postponed. The problem, for me at least, is that the only time available at the Civic Center to reschedule the play is the last week of September. Why is that a problem? Because that’s the same time that I’m opening the play I’m directing at the Thibodaux Playhouse, Bless Me Father. So unless something opens up in October and the play can be shifted even further, the inimitable Chuck Boutwell will be performing my role of the Player King for most of the Hamlet run, with me only stepping in for three or four performances.

In happier news, I’ve been informed that I have been nominated for a Thibodaux Playhouse Award for Best Supporting Actor for the play Rumors I was in back in April! This is really cool — I’ve been with the Playhouse for many years now, but this is the first time I’ve been nominated for an acting award. I smile with glee. The awards presentation is currently scheduled for the evening of Sept. 11. Hopefully it’ll go on as planned.

And one last thing — something I’ve been promising 2 in 1 Showcase listeners for months now. I finally figured out how to do it yesterday. It’s not exactly professional quality, but I think it’s nifty.