James and JF were playing at The Tank, just off Times Square last night. I went to see the show. It was good. First up, Emily and Ishah in their shiny silver costumes announcing the premise; they are the last two people on earth and this is their television channel. They played well! The second act was Uncalled For, an impressive sketch comedy trio from Montreal, befriended by James and JF when they toured the Canadian Fringe last summer with their show Channel One.
I was pleasantly surprised to run into three other women clown friends when I walked into the theatre. We sat together in the second row of the audience enjoying our former cast-mates in their latest duo production.
In the bar afterwards there was much talk of work and not work. Jobs lost and jobs found. Grants and gigs applied for. Upcoming auditions. Break a Leg. Fingers crossed.
Because we are who we are there was also an intense discussion about education that could have been a New Yorker cartoon or a Portlandia sketch. Finding a preschool program, applying too Kindergarten. I was there once worrying, obsessing about that for my 3-year-old, for my 5-year-old. Now I am worrying and obsessing about something else entirely for my tweenager. Time passes. Lives change.
I’m grateful for the many hours I spent on stage and in rehearsal with these fantastic women.