I am home winding down after tonight’s performance. I finally had Annie with me. I was so pleased. Many nice remarks followed, for which I was grateful, but I didn’t need them. It was enough just feeling that naturalness of being in the moment and knowing that everything coming out of me was genuine. What a blessing! During intermission, John (Capt. Keller) asked me how I felt about tonight. I told him I felt really good about it. When the show was over, he again turned to me and said he didn’t feel like he had such a good night, but he could tell I was in the zone. Now that it’s nearly all over, I finally reached my goal for Annie. Isn’t that how it always works.
Tomorrow (or today, by the time this is posted) it all ends. I started tonight’s show a little emotional just thinking about it, and I really did lose it on the line “… and I don’t want to say goodbye.” In fact, I don’t even know if that line was coherent.
My sister brought me the most beautiful arrangement of roses tonight. My boss brought me roses last night, and my parents brought me some last weekend. I also received the sweetest little arrangement of hydrangea and carnations from my friend Jo Ann on opening night. I have now officially run out of vases. Not a bad problem to have.
Before the show tonight I was able to spend a little time reading some of Annie’s letters. I am constantly amazed at how true to life the playwright was able to create this script. In the particular letter I read last, Annie gives an account of battling Helen over her table manners which is the source of the “breakfast scene.” William Gibson lifted most of the actions, and the sequence for them, right out of her letter. It’s awe inspiring and humbling to realize we really are recreating history. It’s not just someone’s interpretation of it, but the very real thing.
I suppose the blog should naturally end tomorrow, but I have a feeling it won’t. There is still a little more to say. Besides, I have pictures.
