Fear and Loathing in DC

Elyce with the

Rebellious Jezebells

Wow – things are grooving right along. The show at the Theater J has been going great. The folks at the venue are really wonderful, Kenneth and I make a great team, I adore the guys in the band (The Rebellious Jezebells), and working with Sandra is nothing short of fabulous. She’s a great lady and – despite her public persona – an absolute delight to be around. My grandfather came to the show last weekend and had a great time. He and Sandra hit it off swimmingly and he has officially invited her into the family.

On Thursday night, Sandra’s good friend and fellow comedian, Paul Mooney, came to see the show. She credits Paul with having ‘discovered’ her – so it was a great reunion for them. The next morning, a small group of us went to the Washington Monument with a video camera. Sandra and Paul walked around and talked to people, asking them who they were voting for and stirring up provocative conversation. We saw the most amazing, and real, reactions from the folks there – a young soccer team from Spain, as well as another group of students from another country (I didn’t catch where) all mobbed Paul, an couple of older women timidly approached Sandra with s, a teacher with her young son spoke to us about her concerns about education (oh, honey – I can SO relate!), an international family in town for a bat mitzvah – we had a great time meeting all the people and hearing what they had to say. Everyone was great.

Yea – we’re also dealing with a bit of controversy over some of the material in the show. Sandra is well known for calling it like she sees it. She can be vulgar. This should be no shock to anyone with a brain. As though the Righteous Right came in just looking for something to scream about, they have ripped apart one of her pieces, taken one of the statements wholly out of context, and created a media frenzy. I think it's completely ridiculous. If people don't agree with Sandra's views, then simply don't come to the show. She's not a candidate, she is not officially speaking for anyone but herself. The twisted part is that she's not even saying things publicly. You'd have had to pay and want to see her in order to have heard the comment. BUT the right wing-nuts are all over the news with their ridiculous comments. There is no crisis.... no one has been hurt or endangered. ...honestly people.

LIVE! From our nation's capitol...

Today marked the first day of my professional stage managing career. I feel pretty good about how things have gone so far. On top of the part of Stage Manager, I'm still working on booking as well as trying to keep up with other connections I made this summer. There is no laurel resting going on here!

We arrived in town on Sunday and most of Monday was spent teching the show (setting lighting cues and band rehearsal). Sandra was to arrive this morning, with one more run-through before the show tonight, to make sure we had everything figured out. Thus, Sandra Bernhard's 3 week run of Without You I'm Nothing at the Theater J at the DCJCC has officially begun. Of course, the day was not without it's own special dramas. Sandra's flight almost didn't leave New York due to weather, and there were sudden hotel changes for her and Kenneth due to... well... we'll call it "unforeseen circumstances" and leave it at that. BUT - even so, things went pretty smoothly this evening. Cues were given, Sandra and the band (The Rebellious Jezebels) sounded great, and the crowed seemed very happy. Tomorrow is the official "opening night", complete with an after party meet & greet, but I would certainly count tonight as far more than a dress rehearsal. The truth is, I'm pretty excited about this gig. I think it's going to be a great run and a tremendous experience for me.

Now - this is the first time I've ever really been to Washington, DC. I mean, I have been here before, but I never really experienced the city. I was here once as a kid, a few times on Dead Tour in the 80s, and once to a North American Riding for the Handicapped conference. I don't recall venturing out into the city much on any of those trips. But, after the past 2 1/2 days in town I can make at least one clear observation... Driving here is a NIGHTMARE!! Omigod. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they city has traffic circles with traffic lights. This is simply too much of an attempt to control the flow of traffic. It does not control it - it chokes it. Perhaps it's the plethora of one way streets and poorly marked intersections. Maybe this is was causes people to maneuver their vehicles like complete morons. I don't know... but it's not safe.

People complain about NY drivers, but while NY drivers may drive like maniacs, they are doing it with great intention. So they are paying attention. They are cutting you off on purpose! Here, they drive around like they are the only ones on the road; making u-turns in the middle of a street, across the double yellow line, between traffic lights, in the middle of traffic. (Really! I saw this happen today). They can't seem to figure out how to park, they make turns across 7 lanes of traffic with out looking.... Wholly shit. Oh - and wait, my favorite thing - when the traffic is all backed up because of the lights and construction in the traffic circle, they lean on their horn. Why do they do this?? It makes me want to get out of my car, walk over to their car, lean in the window, look them in the eye and say, "Do you think this is helpful??? Hmmm... not sure??? Well, it's NOT!" and then pinch them and walk back to my car.

The problem with that plan is that it could get me shot, and that would just not be any fun for me.

I think that is the major difference between my feelings for drivers here and drivers in Boston. Drivers in Boston simply have no clue. I don't fear them - I pity them. But after driving through some of the neighborhoods I have been through - i just don't know about the folks down here. While most of the folks I've met on foot have been delightful - who knows about these jokers in their cars.

Ok - the show must go on, but first, I must get some rest.