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Steve’s first day

by Camp Freedom! playwright Steve Spencer

The Black Sheep Incubator series has begun.  We started rehearsals last week.  Last Wednesday to be exact.  A group of strangers gathered in the cavernous (yet warm) studio of the Cultural Center to read something I wrote.  The director was there, there was a stage manager present, actors, even the guy designing the set.  The Set Man, as I shall refer to him.  I had been given an opportunity by the DCA to develop a play for free.

I was petrified.

Perhaps the DCA had made a mistake.  Maybe all these people (the DCA included) were wrong.  Perhaps my play didn’t deserve to be developed.  Perhaps we were all (the DCA included) insane.  At any rate, it was too late to do anything about it as we sat down to read the thing.

Then something cool happened.

We talked about the play.  I had prepared answers for various questions in my mind.  I had rationalizations for this decision, for that sentence.  I forgot them all as we talked.  We talked.  A bunch of strangers.  It was awkward, we are all shy to some extent.  But we relaxed.  I tried to be someone I wasn’t, someone better, then I didn’t.  I relaxed.  The obvious flaws (damn it) of my play were pointed out.  The subtle flaws were dissected.  The good parts were remembered.  We all somewhat sort of bonded.  In my opinion.

My suspicion that I am insane is retreating.  Suddenly, I think we might get away with it.