Something Wicked This Way Comes or A Marriage of My Writing and Theater Lives

I don’t know if it is a legitimate equation … or just some lame excuse I conjure to justify not paying attention to manuscripts, but it does often seem putting energy into theatrical ambitions detracts the creative energy of writing or editing my novels. I suppose it is a time issue – and the fact I can get all consumed by inspiration when I’m in a production, be it on a stage or on a page. But whatever law of my reality that may be, I’m going to bend it a bit Friday night when I go on a stage and read my novel.

I suppose my love of writing and my love of theater really aren’t mutually exclusive. I didn’t do much else with my spare time when I was writing An Ever Fixed Mark. But, theater was on my mind as I wrote it. In fact, theater was one of the main threads that started the intricate tapestry of my novel.

It wasn’t a long passage of time between typing Lizzie’s first scene and the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy I directed. I was still very much in the mode of a five act story, complete with ascending and descending action. I wanted Lizzie to be an actor, as another example of ways people live off of other lives. So, I put her in a production of Macbeth, allowing me a brilliant image (well I thought it was a brilliant image anyway) of stage blood to juxtapose the real bloodsucking thing. Plus, the Scottish play is about fate, trying to outwit fate, and having fate triumph in the end. Very apropos to the whole Lizzie, Ben, Oliver story. Only it was a clunky plot… and really… not necessary. So Macbeth and all the supporting players in the theater scenes… and even the stage blood were deleted from version three. The only mention of theater that remains is an aside comment about Lizzie’s friend, Davis.

But anyway, back to bending reality and Friday night. Lizzie will get to be on stage afterall. I’ll be reading a couple of her scenes – maybe even that one with stage blood that got deleted from the final novel.

My co-star in this production is fellow author and friend, Stephanie Haddad, someone I met through a play - that Shakespeare tragedy no less. She will be reading from and signing her novels, A Previous Engagement and Love Unlisted.

The stage is that of Hovey Players in Waltham. The event begins at 8pm. Hope to see you there.