July 3, 2020

White Dog came in and tossed her clipboard on the bed. "How did it go?" I asked. She looked at me for a moment before breaking into a huge grin. "For a first read through with the entire cast," she shared, "it was MARVELOUS! I was worried about the remote players, but there was no need. There was such an energy and enthusiasm. Can we qualify for Tony Awards, I wonder?"

"Joey had a brilliant concept for how he wants to play Barnardo," White Dog wagged. "When he encounters the ghost of Hamlet's father he is not going to be frightened or challenging. We think Barnardo would already know the king and would sense he was sad. So the guard is going to present himself as a loyal friend...give a smile and gentle understanding. Isn't that a great interpretation?"

"And Sally Ann gets it totally! This is 2020 so why be stuck in gender stereotypes? SHE is going to play Rosencranz as a lovely lady...a close dear childhood friend of Hamlet's. She already has some fine costuming ideas."

"Andy has just the perfect demeanor of the kid who grew up playing and roughhousing with Hamlet. As Guildenstern, there is clearly a deep bond between the two men. Andy is every body's idealized best friend."

"I am not saying we are ready to usher in the audience but what an amazing start. Poor Bella got the giggles and could not stop...not a good look for Queen Gertrude. And poor Asta and Charley had to stay up VERY late to Zoom the read through...we are going to have to plan an early coffee and croissant session for the next practice. So it is not so tough on our friends around the globe. Everyone has the day off tomorrow so we can celebrate the birthday of the WDA's Darkest White Dog...don't mention the reason. She thinks we all forgot."