This past Tuesday night, I went to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. I’ve never seen a Shakespeare play as an Opera, and I’ve never seen an Opera in Rome, so this was pretty special. We went after a powerhouse sightseeing day in Rome in which we took in the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, the Pantheon, Saint Peter’s Basilica, roman ruins, The Spanish Steps, and a few smaller churches. I had to drink some coffee before the (nearly 4 hour) show to make sure I wouldn’t collapse in exhaustion.

The show was spectacular. That being said, it wasn’t without flaws. While I think that the stories Shakespeare tells are wonderful for an Opera, I think his language is lost in the singing and there were a few actors who were a little weak. The fairy queen was out of this world talented and beautiful. And, as usual the play within the play stole the show. They were damn funny. The music was wonderful, and the theatre itself was breathtaking. All and all, a wonderful evening. And I didn’t sleep! Thank you coffee. If you’re in Rome, take in an Opera, we were in the very cheapest seats, they were 23 Euros (around $30) and could see very well. If you’re tall, prepared to be uncomfortable though.

I’m in Italy for another week, but I’ll be back and ready in July! Until then!

I leave shortly for Italy! Going with my family for just short of three weeks. This will probably will be my last post until July. I will be seeing an Opera in Rome and I’ll be sure to share my experience when I return. Go see some theatre while I’m gone!

That’s right, I took the problems in THE FANTASY CLUB and (hopefully) kicked them to the curb. I feel pretty good about things tonight. We’ll see how things are looking in the cold light of morning. It’s days like this that I desperately wish I had a secret room in my house dedicated to store talented actors that I could pull out at a moments notice and they would read for me. Too bad that’s extremely illegal and probably not very cost affective. Sigh. Guess I’ll have to wait for scene nights.

I’m straying from a strictly theatre post today, but I hope to bring it all around in the end so stay with me. There’s this song that’s driving me crazy. It’s in my head, it’s on the radio, it’s everywhere I go. The worst part? I like it. The song I’m talking about is “We Are Young” from the band Fun. I do not want to like this song, but at this point I have so much vested interest in it I don’t know if I have a choice. Let me explain….

I first heard this song a few months back. I’m scared of new music and so I typically change the station if something I’m unfamiliar with pops up. But this song kept popping up wherever I turned, I couldn’t escape it. It didn’t take long for the song to completely offend me. It’s in the first couple of lines, and it goes like this:

“My lover she’s waiting for me just across the bar

My seat’s been taken by some sunglasses asking ‘bout a scar, and

I know I gave it to you months ago

I know you’re trying to forget

But between the drinks and subtle things

The holes in my apologies, you know

I’m trying hard to take it back”

Correct me if I’m wrong… But he’s talking about giving his girlfriend a scar of some kind, yes? Now this could be a metaphorically scar, not a physical one, I’ll admit that. But it doesn’t feel that way to me. It feels like they’re glossing over domestic abuse, and with the super catchy and up-beat nature of the song I find myself singing cheerfully along with this guy who gives women scars… Or sings about giving women scars anyway. It feels odd to me, perverse. It reminds me a bit of something I’ve been working out for THE FANTASY CLUB. I got a note that one of the character’s fantasies should be more intense because he’s an intense guy and this would cue the audience in on this. So, I made his fantasy where he shoots another character in order to get the women he wants. Creepy, yes? I thought it crossed the line, I even considered toning it down. But I thought let’s see how it goes at the reading. I clenched up when the scene came up, but everybody laughed. The audience went along and ate it up. Why? because it was presented in a funny, up-beat way like they do in the song. Violence is fine, as long as we’re cheerful about it.

The second thing about this song, and this actually isn’t the song’s fault at all, but the radio stations in San Diego’s. I was visiting my family in San Diego, where I grew up, and this song came on the radio and it was censored. It doesn’t have swear words, and I was incredibly surprised at what they bleeped out, and what they didn’t bleep out.

“Give me a second I,

I need to get my story straight

My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State”

On a station in San Diego, they bleeped out the word “higher” from the lyrics directly above. It’s like they think that if the population down there even hears about someone doing drugs they won’t be able to help from becoming heroin addicts. Completely ridiculous. What’s worse, is that they didn’t bleep out the part that I mentioned earlier. They left in the part about the scar. Because, in case you were wondering, adults consensually doing drugs is worse than a man hurting a woman.

Then there’s the chorus:

“So if by the time the bar closes

And you feel like falling down

I’ll carry you home”

I bring this up because my four year old daughter has memorized it and sings it at full volume throughout the day. And she is as bad a singer as she is loud. It’s like she’s my tell-tale-heart, reminding me how terrible I am for enjoying the song. Plus she’s four and talking about bars and people getting so out of control drunk they need to be carried home, but for some reason that doesn’t bother me so much. I’m not sure what I’ll do if she learns the whole song… Or if she asks me about the lyrics mentioning the scar. Knowing her she’ll be asking me any day.

As you can see I’ve put a lot of thought into this song. This short little three minute song that wormed it’s way into my life. When writing plays I only hope that people are investing as much in them, as I find myself with this song. I think that’s a pretty insane goal, considering plays don’t typically get on the radio 100 times a day, but I stand by it. Because what it comes down to in the end, whether he’s glorifying domestic violence or not, it got me thinking. And that’s all we can ask for. To get people to think about our work.

Re-writing is hard. Hard, hard, hard. Also rewarding. Anyone out there find that it’s harder to re-write than to write? I can write all day long with my kids going nuts all around me, but I have to have time and space while re-writing. Not getting much of that today. But that’s okay, there’s always tonight! Oh, here comes a crying baby boy… Off to mother…

I know I said I’d give it a few days, but I just couldn’t. I started diving into re-writing THE FANTASY CLUB a few hours ago, and I find myself excited and terrified. This play has gone through some major changes from it’s first draft. Each time I take it apart it gets better, without a doubt. But, I always have this feeling in the pit of my stomach, what if it doesn’t get better? What if this time I take it apart and I lose some of what people like about it? And I guess I always will. I can’t please everyone, and there will always, always, always be people who think it should be different. The best I can do is to serve the play, and I really truly think I’m doing that. Okay, I’m going to hold my breath and jump. One, two, three, GO!

Here’s what is next: The 31 Plays in 31 Days Project. I’m pledging to write 31 plays in the 31 days of August. Anyone crazy enough to join me? Go to the website and sign up! Really, right now, go and sign up right now. It’s going to be hard, but all good things are.

Last night was the staged reading of THE FANTASY CLUB. It was a blast. Not only did I get a ton of great feedback after the show during the talk-back (facilitated by the awesome Patricia Milton), but I learned a lot from just watching the audience react. I won’t name names, but I had a favorite audience member last night, she was on the edge of her seat practically the whole play, and at one point she tried to talk the main character out of something. AWESOME! I got a ton of laughs, and people also seemed very engaged in the serious parts of the play as well. My actors, Siobhan Doherty, Galen Murphy-Hoffman, Tony Cirimele, Kat Kneisel, and Vahishta Vafadari blew me away. I’ve never had four talented actors preform my script before, and it was an incredible experience to work with them. I have a ton of respect for my director, Tracy Held Potter. Tracy knocked it out of the part. I haven’t been involved with a lot of staged readings before and I didn’t realize how hectic they can be. As a director you have to prioritize and decide what you’re going to work no in the short hours that you have, and I thought that Tracy did a wonderful job with this. If anyone needs a director, give her a shout! You won’t be disappointed.

During the talk back I received some critiques that were right on the money. I knew there was something missing from Act III, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. And I am so very excited to know what I need to work on to get this script production ready. I might wait a couple of days (or start tonight), but re-writing is going to be so fun. This is and was a tremendously fun play to write, and through all the versions and drafts and trying to figure out how to write a play in the first place (this is my first play!), I can’t say how satisfying it was to have a group full of people laugh at your work.

So, THE FANTASY CLUB is close to production ready! Anyone out there looking for a super sexy play to produce? Anyone want to read the next version of the script? Send me an email! I’d love to hear from you!

Oh, and one final big thanks to the Playwright’s Center of San Francisco! Thanks for taking a chance on me and my script!

Tonight is the night my friends. Tonight, “The Fantasy Club” my (first) full length play will get a staged reading! I’m tremendously excited, and strangely much less nervous from yesterday. Right now I feel pretty damn confident that my actors and director will knock this one out of the park.

I’m hoping for a crowd, it is a comedy so I need folks in chairs to laugh! I know it’s raining, but this will be better than an evening in front of the TV! Come out and support an up and coming local playwright. Support local art! I do not plan on disappointing anyone.

THE FANTASY CLUB by Rachel Bublitz Directed by Tracy Held Potter Staged Reading

When: June 4th, 7:30 pm Where: The Off-Market Theatre, 2nd Floor 965 Mission between 5th & 6th Streets How Much: $10 non-members, PCSF members free

I’ve just had my Sunday morning waffle, and now I’m off to the first rehearsal for the staged reading of THE FANTASY CLUB. I’m excited and incredibly nervous. For some reason, I’m much, much, much, much more nervous than I ever was speaking in front of large quantities of people. Go figure.

Well, I really need to get dressed now. Wish me luck! Oh, and be sure and come by the Off Market Theatre TOMORROW at 7:30! Especially if you are fond of laughing. Have a nice Sunday!