Into The Covid Woods: On closings and presence and moments.

Whose woods these are, well, I thought I knew.  Our beautiful Into The Woods got squashed by the Covid giant; I went down hard.

I guess it was inevitable. I mean, it’s a virus.  The theater did the responsible thing and shut us down, but it wasn’t an easy choice to make, given how razor-thin the margins are these days for small theaters. Oh, but our little production was magical!  If you’re not paying attention yet, the DC talent bench is deep, with the utmost respect going to Matt Conner for his unique direction and inspiring vision of this special show. 

And it wasn’t just Woods. Our performing careers are tied to our physical well-being, and I had to step out of a gig that meant a lot - great music with a great orchestra, tons of prep, a lovely group of people, directed by a friend, full of possibilities. Blame makes it all easier, doesn’t it? The Woods Witch says it herself - “fine, if that’s the thing you enjoy placing the blame if that’s the aim give me the blame.”  We’re all about the blame these days, seems to me, but blame isn’t the same as a solution.

Acting is all about the moment - being present, taking the moments as they come and responding to each one honestly. And if I’m honest, there is joy here - a dear friend with big talent stepped in; my moment made space for another, and so that is a happy ending I will take.

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During my convalescence, I wrote about my sister’s 20th wedding anniversary, and she reminded me in the comments section about the song I sang for them at the reception - “Guantanamera.”  Yep.  Her husband had hired a mariachi band to serenade them when he proposed and that was the song they played, so this is what they wanted.  

Photo taken moments before I shooed a huge jumping cricket off of my sister’s wedding dress. But that’s another story for another time….”never mind, anyway.”

We made it more about the (very patient) reception band taking fabulous solos and way less about me being terrible, which I truly was. But we’d planned a second surprise song, one I was loving at the time: “This Moment” by John Bucchino, a composer who’s penned some lovely stand alone songs, as well as some musicals.  I wanted a song that captured all the wonderful things I felt when I was with my family; I struggled with the fact that my sister lived in Colorado (she still does and I still do), too far away for her sweet nephew - cutest ring bearer in the world at the time btw - who adored them; still does. And way too far for me and mine.  I sang it for them 20 years ago.  18 years later, it made its way into my Christmas show, then I put it on my album and finally it was the last song of my 54 Below show. You could say it’s stuck with me.

Those moments in the Woods were perfect, the missed moments were too, but I didn’t know it.  There is no way to say to the grieving, the sick, or even a downtrodden friend that this song is comfort.  It isn’t.  But it’s for our now, for the beauty of small happy things and heavy sad things. Don’t miss the moments, don’t waste them away, whatever they are; I want you and yours to have them all. 

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I tested negative just in time for our big trip to Ireland.  Yes, it’s finally on - lots more to come. And as I packed, I determined that I’d be present the whole time, truly enjoy, see what arises. My dear dad and his little sister were supposed to join, but health things have kept them at home, so my present moments are a present for them as we go along.

And here’s that song, in its live form - I’m end-of-the-show exhausted and the sound isn’t perfect but it’s very real.  If you’d like to hear the pristine version, here’s where you can do that.

This moment is gone before you know it.  

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This Moment by John Bucchino

This moment, perfect, golden, grasp it, see it.

This moment, laughing, happy, feel it, be it.

Curve of face, warmth of hand, butterfly...

Pin in place when it lands... Try! Try!

This moment, ripened, bursting, taste it, name it.

This moment, precious, fleeting, catch it, frame it.

Curve of moon, warmth of air, willow bough...

Winter soon, be aware... Now! How?

This sadness! Aching, reaching, looking on...

At this moment, present, distant...

Shining, bubble, touch it, lose it...

Happy, laughing, perfect, golden...

Gone.

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With love and thanks to my brilliant collaborators: Howard Breitbart, musical direction; Saadi Zain, bass; Julia Murney, director; Vibecke Dahle, producer; Warren Freeman, musical producer; Nevermore Records; 54 Below.

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And the Woods cast: find and follow them on the socials; they’re all fantastic.

John Loughney, Erin Granfield, Chad Wheeler, Brett Klock, Amber Gibson, Brooke Bloomquist, Holly Kelly, Santiago Alfonso Meza, Ashley Nguyen, Rachel Lockett, Angelica Miguel.

Matt Conner, Elisa Rosman. Lynn Joslin, Margie Jervis, Nicholas Goodman.