Edinburgh Day 5 (8/2)
We open today!
Well, technically we are in previews through the weekend, but it’s our first show with an audience, so that’s exciting.
Before that though, there was a whole day to get through! Today is the first day of what will be our typical schedule in country - the day being free, and then an evening performance. So, what’s the routine? Well, for me it starts not far from my typical routine back home. Wake up, then straight to making breakfast and coffee. Then, while eating breakfast, take some time to reflect on yesterday and plan today. For this trip (as you may have noticed since you’re here!) I’ve used that time to write journal entries and blog posts capturing the events of Fringe for myself, and to share with you!
Once blog posts are done, it’ll usually be time to get in a workout. Today was a run along a slightly new route, this time up Leith Walk and around a new (to me) part of town. Two-and-a-half miles later and back at the house, the next step was running a few errands, which today was a grocery trip and some lunch. I’m kind of digging making as easy walk almost daily for groceries, though I’m definitely still getting accustomed to the Scottish supermarkets.
Errands done, the rest of the day is left for relaxing and preparing for the night’s show. Our nightly call is 7pm for a 735pm show (1900 and 1935 here…another thing that’s taking some time to get used to), and arriving backstage again the vibe in the venue was high-energy still, but there was a definite air of nervous energy as well. In a lot of ways I found it reminded me of the early years doing Cap Fringe on NY Ave (RIP Fringe Tent) - a little extra chaos, a little more fear, and maybe a bit more risk?
As our team assembled, we saw the show prior to ours scramble to load-out their (pretty ambitious) set. While they sounded a little worried about timing and space, they were done and out quickly, and handed the stage over to us with plenty of time to spare, and we got going on our version of the same.
Our load-in also went smoothly, and before long the band was onstage jamming, the rest of the cast waiting in the wings, and the house opened for our first performance in Edinburgh!
We had around 20 folks in the house, which given some of the stories I’ve heard from EdFringe vets is a decent size. Some of the nerves from the backstage vibe did seem to bleed onstage for us, but all-in-all it was a very successful show, and an hour after curtain, we had completed our own load-out and handed the stage off to the next show.
Tomorrow I’d have my first shift flyering for the show, but for now, it was time to celebrate!
