Closing week

The snow has melted for the most part, but the recession continues to strangle struggling arts organizations like Temple.
The snow has melted for the most part, but the recession continues to strangle struggling arts organizations like Temple.

Our second and final student matinee, respectably attended, went well today. That’s the good news. The bad news is that adult ticket sales, in defiance of several positive notices and what seems to be very good buzz, have dropped precipitously since last week … 50 and 30 patrons apiece for yesterday’s shows. Is this the effect of the snow? The economy? Bardophobia? Remarkably, overall attendance figures are outpacing expectations, a fact that makes one wonder why the show was produced in the first place …but that’s a topic for another day.

Last week’s announcement that Temple was on the verge of closing has elicited just over $30K from local donors to date, which means that Temple’s life expectancy has been extended to the end of its current season. Beyond that … hard to say.

We depart Elsinore this Sunday after a 2 p.m. matinee, which should put me back in Greenville by 9 p.m. Then I’ll have three weeks before Moonlight rehearsals begin in which to do taxes, wrap up some school board print projects and get off book for first read. I also hope to visit my friend, Peter, whose chow died recently. The darn guy keeps taking in gimped animals that keep expiring on him. Such a big heart the man has.