Yesterday, we saw the tableaus. After each actor did their individual shapes, the director had them come up and do tableaus in pairs, then groups of 3, and then with the whole family on stage. It was a very successful exercise. It was like they were finding out about the set without anyone having to say “Now you’re going to find out about the set.”

We blocked the first 26 pages of the play in rough sketch-mode: the director let them improvise through a scene once, then would give notes, then let them do it again. Finding vague shapes. We stayed right on the schedule she had made. This method of work made it seem like they were actually living in the set, in their own home. Very effective. We’re going to try to get through the whole play this way in 4 days.

And today was the day off – I took the 2 bus to Whole Foods, shopped, cooked with my headphones on, and babysat for Rosie of the Millans tonight. Feels like Oregon.