Bugfest and Halloween

It’s been a while, but for good reason. I will probably split this into several entries, because it’s been a full few weeks. Highlights: finishing my thesis, tech week for the play, the show, last classes, Halloween!

Last week was hellish, the last week of classes before revision period. Assignments due in all my classes, including a thesis and a presentation on said thesis. Needless to say I didn’t sleep much. I got it all done, pulled two all-nighters, and managed to be some semblance of presentable throughout the week. Huzzah.

Onto more important and interesting things. The week before last was “tech week” for Bugfest. They call it “bump in”, and I never did figure out why. I finally got to put together everything I had been imagining or calling out during rehearsals. Sound effects and lighting came together.

Lighting was a little complicated. I’ve never done much with lights, so I had to find words to describe what I wanted and ways to compensate for what wasn’t possible. Thankfully my lighting was pretty simple, only a few cues and a few settings, and the lighting designer was thankful for that. I think she liked me because I was nice and didn’t ask much. There was only one which was simpler than mine; lights up and down a few times, mine had some red in it.

The first time we went through it with all the tech I hated it. The design didn’t turn out the way I imagined or wanted. It took the most important and serious section of the play and made it comical. I was exhausted and not happy with the way things turned out. Mulling things over in my head as I walked him, I decided to make a few changes (although I hadn’t figured out what those changes would be yet). It took a flash of inspiration at 2 am to figure it out.

I cut a sound effect and amped up the lights to compensate for the intensity the sound was supposed to add. The lighting tech actually said “Great, much better, I love your work.” The second time around was so much better. It added to the intensity and really supported the words the way they needed to be supported.

Any who, that is most of Bump In. Everyone was really nice; hanging out back stage with all the actors and directors was so much fun. I had almost forgotten how fantastically amazing drama people are.

Bump in over, I let my actors go about their merry way. Opening night I had dinner with the writer of my script, Tim. We have a lot in common (the script was inspired by one of our shared favourite authors) so it was a good time. I was a bit nervous when it came time for TCOMSSK (abbreviated title of my play, The Centre of My Skull Sized Kingdom) to go on. Tim had never seen it. Would he approve? Would he enjoy it? It was his baby I directed, he was basically the only person whose opinion mattered to me.

He laughed at all the appropriate moments, and a few extra places. The smile on his face at the end was all I needed to see.

I saw it two more times after that, once with Kylie and Erin and once by myself on closing night. The night I went with Erin and Kylie the after show was improv (!!!) which was refreshing to watch. I plan on writing a post just dedicated to that, the differences and all, as I figure that will be interesting to anyone from Purdue Improv. I didn’t get to tape it (sorry Ryan), but I made lots of observations. Next best thing?

Closing night was Halloween and Bugawards. Most of the awards were not surprising at all. Best script went to my favourite, which had a nice blend of the funny and philosophical. Best female actor went to Samara from my play. We also managed to snag Best Production and Best Ensemble BOOH YEAH. I was really shocked at getting those two; I honestly wasn’t expecting to get anything. I got a plastic lizard as a prize and gave a little speech, followed by a group hug from my cast. D-awww.

After a minimal set strike, there was a party! Whoo! It was a mix of a closing night party and a Halloween costume. Some people dressed up (my favourite was Samara who dressed all-out as a nun. Seeing a nun appear throughout the night was priceless), while others did not. Games were played, friends were made, and a good time was had by all.

A few highlights: a nuddie run (which I did not partake in, thankyouverymuch), Never Have I Ever (there were some crazy stories in that bunch), and explaining to people that not everyone believed 911 was a hoax.

The house the party was at was above a sex shop, which was hilarious in itself, and it was the only residential place for quite some area, so noise was not a problem. Good thing too, we were pretty loud pretty much all night.

I got to know a lot of people that night. Some I had only said a handful of words to, and then spent hours talking with. I wish I had more time to get to know all the people I have just scratched the surface of.

Improv post will be coming soon, but I have exams to study for, kittens, so you’ll just have to wait.