Cinco DeNio

You remind me of the movie Hitchcock with Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren. The movie makes it seem like she was completely in the background but she has fire and spit. When Alfred Hitchcock won the AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1979 he had this to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb5VdGCQFOM

My issue is that neither the Ohio plays nor industry parties materialized out of nowhere. Before Cathy went to Ohio she could have said "Here's the performance schedule. Which dates can you be there for?" or some such. When the agent or publisher wants to plan a party he can say "Oh, sorry, I'm going to be in Ohio that day". He could then have checked with Cathy ahead of time to reschedule or push a little on the publisher to have it another day.

One other thought I had is that Jamie is always wanting to fix things for Cathy instead of hearing and supporting her where she is. He uses his money to support her instead of his time. (He lines up a headshot photographer and buys a copy of Backstage listing a bunch of auditions.)

@taylorannephoto's comments reminded me of one other callback in the show I saw. The dress she wears in "I'm a Part of That" is the one he fights to get her to wear in this song. To me that says she's singing "IaPoT" just after coming back from that party. Obviously she could have worn that dress another time or it was her standard fancy party dress, etc.

Not sure if these are the sections @taylorannephoto refers to but they are parts of "If I Didn't Believe in You" that stick out to me. For me, the kicker: The bolded line is exactly what Cathy did as well. Earlier, in "Moving Too Fast" he says something like "Even if I can't follow through what else could I do?" I assume that means he feels he's destined to be a writer even if he has no more success. Yet Cathy feels similarly destined to be an actress no matter what and he can't/won't see it. And then the moment where he decides to end the relationship (IMO):

j/k I'm team CaleBug but am seeing the show again on Friday (if nothing intrudes) and will watch it with Cameron's eyes. His reasoned arguments (and $50) could sway me. I'll be watching the mailbox for that check.

So now he's C. Y. Later?

You're working backwards so you haven't gotten to it yet.

@Cakebug Tranch & @EvRobert , I went and saw it again yesterday. Took a few more pictures of the lobby board. I'm starting with my favorite image and then just doing a hodge-podge.

I sense a profile name change in CakeBug's future.

I have to give the movie credit. It is basically the stage play with storyline changes but the lyrics and music are pretty much spot on. The stage show is around 90 minutes as well.

Depends on whether you're pulling for Jamie or Cathy. Also, 45 minutes left is halfway through. It's a short movie.

After last week's emotion-fest I bet he'll pick something upbeat like Sweeney Todd to lighten the mood.

The marquee (without me) The sign boards (Notice one of the wedding pictures in the bottom right of the first picture. That is taken in front of the Conservatory at Rockwood Mansion. The mansion grounds are often used for wedding pictures and the Conservatory looks good as a background with its green and yellowish color scheme.) The set

It was excellent! The stage set was Jamie's apartment. There were a few times where set pieces were removed to designate a different place but I honestly don't remember where in the show that was. (It was early in the show but that's it.) The timelines were still just a little muddled as there were several times both actors were on stage but once they started talking or singing it was clear they weren't talking/singing to the other actor. (Except for the wedding of course.) Both singers weren't the strongest but all the emotion and energy came through. Jamie's still a jerk but less immediately so. I also have to commend the people who designed/made the boards in the theater lobby. The backgrounds were either music from the show or copies of Jamie's letter! There were also a bunch of pictures of both actors (including a wedding picture of the actors in front of a local landmark) and then various pictures of the "couple" as well as Cathy in a variety of roles. Well done! The show itself was well done. Jamie didn't change a whole lot but Cathy's wardrobe completely changed with each song. There were also nice touches where Jamie's Columbia University sweatshirt was worn or tossed around by both characters. Also Jamie decorated a small Christmas tree during The Schmuel Song and pulled out a dress from a bag when he got to the girl from Odessa. Cathy wore that dress a scene or two later so it was nice to see a call back. I honestly thought "THAT was what Schmuel carried in his head for 41 years?!?" when I first saw it. When Cathy wore it I understood it was a Christmas present Jamie gave her. (Yes, I'm gullible and stupid.) Wen Cathy first comes on she is reading the letter then she starts packing her things and walks off. Unfortunately we didn't give it the applause it deserved because the music never stopped. When I go again (and I AM going again, at least once more!), I know to start clapping as she walks off. There's no break between Still Hurting and Shiksa Goddess. (Also, I realize I misunderstood Still Hurting. It's not later in time like I thought. It makes sense if she's just reading or just read the letter. Now I take it to mean that she never got comforted and even the letter didn't help anything. (Not to mention this is at least the second Dear Jane letter she's gotten.) I really liked the time device. Since it was Jamie's apartment the wall and windows were projected on a screen. When Jamie was on stage the clock wound backwards to a certain hour. So his first song went to 1 or 1:30, the next to 2:00 and so on. Cathy's started at midnight (or maybe 11) and worked back. When Cathy came on the clock ran forward to her next time. The clock was at 6:00 for the proposal and wedding. I loved that. They didn't peg it to any specific year. (At least on stage. I haven't read the program yet. I ran late to get there.) There was a live orchestra but I honestly thought they were using a provided soundtrack. During the curtain calls the actors motioned and the musicians came out. They did a wonderful job! I cried at the end, as I said before. Cathy was so rapturous in love and Jamie was so ready to end things. Cathy came on first and did her song. Jamie came on then and did his. He started packing his things while they did the duet and then they looked "at" each other for the last goodbye. I couldn't hold it in. I wasn't noisy but I sure was sobbing. I got to meet both actors afterward and thank then congratulate them. Cathy's IRL mom was there as well so I talked to her for a minute. I considered asking for a picture but decided not to. I will next time. Thought it was gauche but what the hell, why not? I can't thank @Cakebug Tranch enough for letting me borrow the soundtrack so I could hear the show before I went last night. I went to add it to Amazon and it's part of the Prime subscription if you have one. I still am going to buy it but that was a nice touch when I had trouble getting the files onto one of my devices. I will upload my pictures and post them shortly. But first, let me take a selfie.

Ok, I admit it. I cried. Seeing Cathy's joy and love and Jamie literally walk out on that?!? Too much.

JFC (sorry). Just listening to the soundtrack and Still Hurting even acknowledges right up front that Cathy did nothing wrong. So even the creator of the show admits it's all on Jamie (JRB). Is this show a freaking love letter to his ex-wife? Either that or he sees himself as Cathy and his ex-wife is Jamie?

At least in the movie context, does the song Still Hurting seem odd? Of course Cathy is still hurting if she just got the letter!

So what should I yell at the show tonight? Candidates include: GEEEOOOOOSTOORRRRM! How did this get made? Jamie, get the fuck over yourself and see what you've got here!

I bought a ticket for my local theater's performance tomorrow night. Excited to see it!