Eight of us gathered in my apartment last night to read Neil Simon’s play “Jake’s Women”.  Here are a few snapshots:

1.  I began by apologizing for something I did at our reading last month.  People responded with versions of “You don’t have to apologize” but I knew the truth.  “I was wrong to do that and I’m sorry.” 

Then I could breathe again, coming to the present moment rather than one weeks ago.

2.  For the first part of the play, I was Edith – Jake’s therapist.  One of the principles of acting is to “stay in character”.  I didn’t.  Edith was so funny and I couldn’t stop laughing.

Jake has all these imaginary conversations with the women in his life.  He’s a creator of dialogue.

Jake:  Forget it, Edith.  You’re not an analyst.  You’re a mother with a diploma.

Edith:  And what are you?  A martyr!  A self-made sufferer!  Don’t you know you’re better than that, Jake?  You’re a warm, loving, giving human being with incredible sensitivity.  And Maggie doesn’t even appreciate that.

Jake:  You really think so?

Edith:  I don’t know.  They’re your words.  I’m just moving my lips.

***

And again …

Edith:  If you want to suffer, you suffer.  If you want to be fat, you’re fat.  We make our own destiny, Jake.

Jake:  Is that why you’re still unmarried?

Edith:  No.  Most men are shits.

3.  Jake dominates the play but there are some juicy female roles.  Still, the real treat for us readers is to take on the weird mystery that is Jake.  There were four opportunities last night to try him on for size.  Two men and two women went for it.

And they were great!  Throwing themselves into his fantasies and delusions.  Plus each of them were reading his words for the first time!  Brilliant.  Four flavours.

4.  It was getting towards the end, with midnight appearing on the horizon.  I had been staring at my wee screen for close to three hours and things were blurring.  My job for this last part was the stage directions.  They were in italics … tiny italics.

In the middle of someone’s speech, there was a line of italics looming.  I couldn’t read the words.  The actor paused.  Hearing no input from me, he or she kept going!  Thank you, dear intuitive one.  We’re a team here.

***

Seven human beings left my home happy

What could be better on a Thursday evening?

I slept well